[Characteristics of smoking and differentiations in smoking habits].
Sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics were analyzed in 221 men and 126 women, aged 21-80 years, in a family medical clinic. The overall smoking rate was 42.3% (55% for men and 30.1% for women). The proportion of smokers was significantly higher than in the findings of earlier surveys in Israel from 1983-1986. Among those who did not complete high school, there was a tendency to an increase in the proportion of smokers with increase in education (p less than 0.001). But among those with higher education, the smoking rate was the lowest (p less than 0.001). The highest smoking rate was among those born in Israel, lower in those born in Asia-Africa and lowest in those born in Europe. Women had smoked for fewer years than men (p less than 0.01). There was a significantly higher proportion of men and women who had started smoking at ages 18-20 years. This age group, liable to compulsory service, represents a special risk group for starting to smoke. Men smoked significantly more cigarettes/day than women (p less than 0.001): 47.9% of men and 16.8% of women were heavy smokers. Since heavy smokers have more difficulty in stopping, they represent a risk group for the development of smoking-related diseases. The number of attempts at quitting was the same for men and for women, but the periods of smoking cessation were longer in men. We recommend that the civilian and military medical-health services set up an overall educational field program for soldiers and for family physicians.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Kupat Holim, Kiryat Malachi.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000639:trends; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors