Determinants of smoking cessation among physicians and teachers from northeastern Italy

Determinants of smoking cessation among 909 physicians and teachers from the Northeast of Italy were investigated between March and November 1985. Men were heavier smokers than women and showed a larger cessation rate (46% of men and 32% of women who had ever smoked were ex-smokers). The stronger determinants of smoking cessation turned out to be a high number of cigarettes smoked per day, and (especially for men) a relatively old age. From the study, it appears that smoking cessation in Italy is not motivated by disease prevention considerations but is the result of disease-linked symptoms. Antismoking campaigns should, therefore, more strongly emphasize the advantages (especially short-term ones) of quitting smoking while one is still well. For their exemplar role, physicians and teachers are on the front line of antismoking action: convincing them to stop smoking is, thus, an obvious priority.