[Smoking among physicians and measures for its control]

Questionnaire survey of 107 physician smokers of the city of Perm was carried out in order to find out the reasons for smoking of physicians and their opinion on the ways for its eradication among medical workers. Eighty three per cent of doctors began smoking before entering medical institutes, continued to smoke during their study at the Institute and had a long-term experience of smoking, even more than 30 years. Thirteen physicians don't want to stop smoking. On graduating from the Institute, 14.9% of physicians started smoking being fully aware of its adverse health effects. Almost all the respondents smoke at their workplace but consider prohibitive measures most effective in smoking control among medical personnel. Fourteen per cent of physicians smoke in the presence of their patients. More than half of the respondents experience adverse changes in their health state. It is pointed out that prohibitive measures have a formal character. First of all each doctor should make an adequate choice himself. Compulsory measures are also needed. It is necessary to promote antismoking propaganda among medical students and to take drastic measures with respect to each student smoker.