[Changes of smoking habits over 10 years among II year medical students]

In 1983 and 1993 among second year medical students surveys were conducted with regard to their cigarette smoking habits. After 10 years we found decrease in smoking habit among medical students (in 1983 48% of students smoked cigarettes, in 1993 only 28% smoked cigarettes). In 1983 only 27% but in 1993 75% of the students who smoked had started smoking prior to their university studies. In 1983 69% of the students smoked fewer than 5 cigarettes a day. Today, the figure is 36%. The corresponding figures of students smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day are 4.5% and 5.6% respectively. The reasons for smoking--chiefly among women students--are stress and sociability.