title: [Smoking in Porto Alegre: prevalence and the role of health professionals in its prevention].
abstract: This study was undertaken in 1988 in order to evaluate the prevalence of smoking, the degree of awareness of smokers and ex-smokers to risks of smoking, and the role of health professionals in the control of smoking in Porto Alegre. A total of 407 persons between 15 and 64 years were interviewed in a population-based survey. Of these, 170 (41.8%) smoked. Among ex-smokers, 85.7% stopped due to awareness of the harm that cigarettes can cause. Only 16.5% of smokers and ex-smokers were warned to the risks of smoking by health professionals before acquiring the habit. After becoming smokers, only 51.4% were warned. These indices are a cause for concern as we believe that prevention is the best approach to control of the smoking epidemic.
authors.affiliation: Fac. de Med., Univ. Fed. do Rio Grande do Sul., Porto Alegre, RS.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Pohlmann
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Loss
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolzzoni
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Zimmer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010819:Physician's Role; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
vernacular_title: Tabagismo em Porto Alegre: prevalência e o papel dos profissionais da saúde na prevenção.