Carlos Alberto de Assis Viegas, Ana Paula Alves de Andrade, Rosangela da Silva Silvestre
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.
Conclusion: 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.
Keywords: Smoking; Physicians; Smoking cessation