| Abstract: | The demographic and social characteristics, attitudes to smokers and smoking, and knowledge about smoking were surveyed in 988 (81.3%) of 1,215 trainee and trained nurses in four locations in Perth, Western Australia. Male and female nurses were similar with 51% never having smoked regularly, 17% being ex-smokers and 32% current smokers. In comparison with Australian woman in general, there were less current smokers and more ex-smokers among female nurses. Female nurses smoked substantially more than Australian female doctors. The majority of nurses who had ever smoked (68%) began smoking between ages 15 and 19 years, 26% began in the first year of their nursing training and 26% smoked their first cigarette in the nurses' quarters. The knowledge of nurses about the health effects of smoking was similar to that of Australian doctors as were their opinions regarding their role in setting a non-smoking example to others. A substantial majority supported either a complete ban on smoking, or its restriction to especially segregated areas in aeroplanes, buses, trains, hospitals and cinemas. |
