[Attitudes of French cardiologists towards smoking]

The object of this study was to evaluate the attitudes and opinions of French cardiologists towards smoking. A postal enquiry was performed with the aid of the French Society of Cardiology and the French Federation of Cardiology in 1993 using a questionnaire developed by the World Health Organisation and the International Union against Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (IUATRD). Seven hundred and thirty cardiologists replied (34% of the study population). The average age was 47 +/- 9 years; 84% were male. The prevalence of smoking was 27% (14% daily smokers and 13% occasional smokers); 47% were former smokers and 26% had never smoked. The proportion of physicians who had never smoked was higher in the younger age groups (29 to 45 years) than in the older age groups (33% versus 21% in the over 45). Forty-two per cent of daily smokers had tried seriously to stop smoking at least once but only 16% hoped to stop smoking in the following 5 years. Young cardiologists were more aware of the cardiovascular and respiratory diseases related to tobacco consumption. Only 64% of cardiologists (54% of daily smokers) systematically warned a smoker if the patient had no tobacco-related illness or did not ask about smoking systematically. Forty-seven per cent of those who replied stated that they were underinformed about the methods of helping patients to stop smoking. The authors conclude that fewer French cardiologists smoke than their general practitioner counterparts (14% of daily smokers versus 21%). They have a better understanding of the respiratory and cardiovascular risks of tobacco consumption but seem to be insufficiently prepared to help their patients to stop smoking. In addition, their personal behaviour with regards to smoking influences their attitude towards patients who smoke.