[Increased knowledgeability of the population and physicians on questions of prophylaxis--the basis for programs to...

One of the main ways of improving health of the population and increasing the duration of life, especially active life, is the upbringing of habits of a healthy way of life among the population. Interviewing by mail of a representative sample of the population 3670 persons of both sexes aged 20 to 60 in Frunze showed that over one third knew nothing of a possibility of the prevention of cardiovascular and bronchopulmonary diseases and two thirds knew nothing of a possibility of cancer prevention. Physicians were also poorly oriented in the problems of prophylaxis of the main noncommunicable diseases. Enhancing measures to form hygienic habits of a healthy way of life in the population and reorientation of medical workers to enhancing prophylactic measures, particularly primary prevention, was found appropriate.