Low and declining cigarette smoking rates among doctors and nurses: 2006 New Zealand Census data

To examine smoking status among doctors and nurses using data from the 2006 Census and to describe recent trends in smoking prevalence among doctors and nurses.

Analysis of smoking status in 2006 New Zealand Census among medical practitioners and midwifery and nursing professionals, and comparison of cigarette smoking prevalences with findings of previous analyses of the census and surveys of doctors.

There were 6312 male and 4197 female doctors, and 2469 male and 32,682 female nurses included in the 2006 Census. Non-response to the smoking status questions were less than 5%. Only 4% of male doctors and 3% of female doctors were regular cigarette smokers in 2006. Among specialist groups, the highest smoking prevalence was 12% among male obstetricians and gynaecologists, and 10% among female radiologists and radiotherapists. 13% of female and 20% of male nurses were smokers. The highest smoking prevalences were among psychiatric nurses (26% male and 30% female nurses). There has been a steady decline in cigarette smoking among doctors and nurses in New Zealand since the 1960s and 1970s.

The results from the 2006 Census demonstrate that non-smoking among doctors and nurses is increasingly the norm, around 90% of younger doctors have never been regular smokers. The results show that it is possible to achieve very substantial decreases in smoking prevalences and to establish smokefree cultures among substantial occupational groups who are well informed about the degree of risk, are aware of the reality of the health consequences of smoking, and work in a substantially non-smoking environment.