ABS86: Smoking among health professionals: A review of the national literature

Abstract

Introduction:

Each year nearly 4.5 million people die from smoking related health problems in the world. Annual number of the people dying from the same reason is about 35000 in Turkey in which smoking is a common habit and an important public health problem. Turkey is the second only to Greece among European countries in cigarette consumption per person. More than 260,000 health professionals work in different parts of health system in Turkey and they have a significant responsibility in antismoking activities. The simplest thing to do is adopting a smoke-free life style to be a good role model for the people around.

Aims and objectives:

The aim of this review was to provide data about smoking behaviour among Turkish health professionals.

Methods:

Results of 44 studies conducted between 1981 and 2004 among health professionals and published in national journals were reviewed to determine smoking prevalence among health professionals.

Results:

Smoking prevalence among physicians was reported 29.0 to 59.0% (39.3–59.1% in males and 24.9–41.0% in females). The ratio of the smokers among academicians in medical schools was 39.0 to 56.0%. Of the research assistants in medical faculties, 44.0 to 57.0% were reported as active smokers. Prevalence of tobacco use was 33.3 to 58.9% among dentists. Smoking was also common among nurses with prevalence values between 43 and 59%. Health officers and the other health workers had a smoking prevalence between 43.7 and 57.4%. Frequency of smokers among health professionals has not changed significantly since 1981 (56% in 1981 and 54% in 2004).

Conclusions:

Smoking prevalence among health professionals, who are well aware of the harmful effects of tobacco on health, seems to be higher than that of general adult population. Health workers should be considered as a target population and priority should be given them in smoking cessation activities because of their vital role in the struggle against tobacco.

Conflict of interest and funding

None.