title: Declining rates of tobacco use in the Japanese medical profession, 1965-2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although there has been a downward trend in smoking rates among medical doctors in recent years, rates have been higher among Japanese doctors when compared internationally.
  
  
  METHODS
  We extensively reviewed all published English- and Japanese-language articles that reported the smoking rates of Japanese doctors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 36 articles were examined, most of which had been conducted as postal surveys, usually by a national, prefectural, or local medical association. Sample sizes ranged from 17 to 11 773, and response rates ranged from 33% to 91%. National surveys conducted between 1965 and 2009 suggest that there has been a statistically significant (P < 0.0001) decline in smoking rates among Japanese doctors (from around 68% to 16% among males and from 19% to 5% among females).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the published data reveal a significant decline in smoking rates among Japanese doctors since 1965, especially among men. Although less than one-fifth of Japanese male doctors now smoke, more work needs to be done in tobacco control to help further reduce the burden of smoking, especially in medical schools.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, Australia. Derek.Smith@newcastle.edu.au
authors.forename: Derek R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wada
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*