Decreasing the prevalence of smoking among Finnish physicians

A postal survey of smoking habits was conducted in a populationof Finnish physicians between October and December 1990. Amongthe 1,623 surveyed (1,231 responses, a 75.8% response rate)the prevalence of daily smoking among male physicians was 10%while in females it was 6%. Another 15% (6% of females) smokedoccasionally. Smoking was more prevalent among elderly physicians.Daily smoking among physicians has decreased since 1969, whenthe daily smoking prevalence was 24% among male respondentsand 17% among females. In addition, according to the survey,Finnish physicians often advice their patients to stop smokingif they have a disease, disorder or complaint for which theprognosis has already been reported to be associated with smoking.