title: [Smoking habits among physicians in Dakar].
abstract: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in March 1999 on the prevalence of smokers and smoking habits among physicians practicing in the Dakar region. The study population was composed of 163 physicians; 128 male (78.5%) and 35 female (21.5%). The prevalence of smokers was 27.6%. The average age of the smokers was 40.5 (+/- 6.2) years (extremes between 30 and 61 years) and an average duration of 18 (+/- 6.6) years in smoking. Men smoked more than women (93.9% versus 6.7%) with 56.4% of heavy smokers. Specialists represented 63.3% and generalists 36.4%. Initiating factors were stress (28.9%), circle of friends/acquaintances (24.4%), fashion (24.4%), pleasure (20%) and advertisements (2.2%). A little over 82% smoked in public places, 68.9% in their work places and 49.5% before children. The average time duration smoking was stopped followed by relapse was 15.7 (+/- 9.7) months. 97.7% of smokers manifested their intention to stop. Nicotine dependence according too the Fagerström questionnaire was average (37.9%), high (39.6%) and very high (12.6%). Smoking is a reality in the medical environment in Dakar. Specific campaigns aimed at physicians will be necessary to hope for a sustainable change in behavior and for a much more pronounced implication in the fight against tobacco addiction.
authors.affiliation: Service de Pneumologie, CHU de Fann, B.P. 5435, Dakar Fann (Sénégal).
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hane
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ndir
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ba
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Diop-Dia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kandji
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.forename: N O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Toure
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diatta
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niang
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wone
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors