[Smoking habits among hospital employees in 1992]

The aim of the study was to investigate the smoking habits of employees of a Danish hospital on the basis of a questionnaire given in October 1992 and compare the results with two similar previous studies of smoking habits among the Danish population (1991) and physicians and nurses (1989). It was performed as a cross-sectional questionnaire study in collaboration with Bispebjerg Hospital and Tobaksskaderådet. Three thousand one hundred and fifty-four (84%) employees responded. The results showed that 37% of male and 33% of female employees were daily smokers. The prevalence of smokers and the distribution of smoking habits according to social class of the employees were equal to the general population except for male physicians and female nurses where the prevalence of smokers was lower than the corresponding social classes. Female doctors smoked as much as class I from the population study. Twenty-two percent of male and 17% of female employees smoked 15 cigarettes a day or more (heavy smokers). Eighty-seven percent of the smokers smoked at work, and one-third smoked more than five cigarettes on each workday. It is concluded that the smoking habits of Danish hospital employees correspond to the smoking habits of the general population. Rules on smoking restriction in Danish hospitals are needed. The smoking habits of female doctors calls for attention.