[Smoking and medical specialty]

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Public health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Physician smoking is a significant public health concern.
• Physician smoking habits and advisory practices can influence patient behavior.
• Understanding variations by medical specialty is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze smoking habits and smoking advisory practices among male physicians in Switzerland.
• To compare these practices across different medical specialties.
• To identify physician groups with lower smoking cessation rates and less frequent patient advice.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of smoking habits and advisory practices.
• Stratification by medical specialty.
• Statistical correction for age differences.

Main Results:

• Pneumologists, ENT specialists, pediatricians, and internists reported significantly lower smoking rates compared to the overall physician group.
• Psychiatrists showed lower smoking cessation rates than the general physician population.
• Gynaecologists provided less frequent smoking advice to pregnant women compared to internists and general practitioners.

Conclusions:

• Medical specialty is associated with significant differences in physician smoking behaviors and patient counseling.
• Psychiatrists and gynaecologists may require specific support for smoking cessation and patient advisory practices.
• Findings have implications for public health strategies and medical education regarding smoking cessation.