Characteristics of smoking among physicians in the Federal District of Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To profile the characteristics of smoking among physicians working in the Federal District of Brazil.


METHODS
A questionnaire on smoking, adapted from that used by the World Health Organization, was mailed to all physicians registered with the Federal District Regional Council of Medicine. Of the 7023 questionnaires mailed, 830 (12%) were duly completed and returned.


RESULTS
Among the physicians participating in the study, the prevalence of smoking was 7.2% (5.9% being regular smokers and 1.3% being occasional smokers). The remainder of the sample consisted of nonsmokers (70.1%) and former smokers (22.7%). In terms of gender, approximately 8.5% of the male physicians were smokers, compared with 5.3% of the female physicians (p > 0.05). Of the physicians who smoked, 80% had taken up the habit before the age of 20, 13% from 21 to 30, and 7% after the age of 31. The prevalence of smoking by specialty was as follows: Surgeons, 10.3%; Anesthesiologists, 10.3%; Clinicians, 9.1%; Gynecologists, 2.9%; and Pediatricians, 2.4%. Approximately 75% of the smoking physicians had been advised by their own doctors to stop smoking, although only 34.9% had tried to quit smoking with the preceding year. Of the physicians responding, 57.1% agreed that smoking is a health hazard, and 26.3% reported smoking in hospitals or doctors offices.


CONCLUSIONS
Efforts to control smoking in the Federal District should be intensified and, despite the fact that the prevalence of smoking is declining among physicians, smoking cessation programs should target this population.
Viegas
Carlos Alberto de Assis
CA
University of Brasília, School of Medicine, Brasília, DF, Brazil. pneumo@unb.br
de Andrade
Ana Paula Alves
AP
Silvestre
Rosangela da Silva
Rda S
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013038:Specialization