Smoking differences between university faculties in Tartu, Estonia, and Oulu, Finland, after the disruption of communism.
OBJECTIVE
To provide information on smoking differences between university faculties.


METHODS
Data from smoking surveys performed on 1,441 staff members and 2,308 students at the University of Tartu, Estonia, soon after the fall of communism, were analysed by faculties, using similar data from the University of Oulu, Finland (1,830 staff members, 5,947 students) for reference.


RESULTS
Wide variations in smoking were found between faculties in Tartu, the prevalence being high among male students of theology (54%) and low among staff and students in the faculties of exercise & sports sciences (< 5%) and mathematics (< 15%). Less variation was seen in Oulu. The medical faculty showed low smoking rates in Oulu but not in Tartu.


CONCLUSIONS
High percentages of smokers were typical of Tartu faculties representing disciplines closely connected with the country's transition (e.g. theology), and low percentages in faculties emphasising physical and mental performance (e.g. sports). The relatively high percentage of smokers in the Tartu medical faculty compared with that in Oulu can be interpreted as delayed diffusion of medical information beyond the former Iron Curtain.
Heikkinen
Rauno
R
Department of Physiology, University of Oulu, Finland.
Kivastik
Jana
J
Kingisepp
Peet-Henn
PH
Hirvonen
Leo
L
Näyhä
Simo
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003148:Communism; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004957:Estonia; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012922:Social Change; D013177:Sports / Q000193:education; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D028725:Theology / Q000193:education; D014495:Universities