Tobacco Smoking in the Medical Profession: An International Review
Author Information
Author(s): Smith Derek R, Leggat Peter A
Hypothesis
What proportion of physicians are smoking in what countries, and how have their habits changed over time?
Conclusion
Physicians' smoking habits vary widely from region to region, and while many developed countries show a decline, some regions still have high smoking rates among physicians.
Supporting Evidence
- Most developed countries have shown a steady decline in physicians' smoking rates during recent years.
- Physicians in some developed countries and newly-developing regions still appear to be smoking at high rates.
- The lowest smoking prevalence rates were consistently documented in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
- Fewer physicians smoke when compared to nurses, and sometimes less often than dentists.
Takeaway
Doctors in different countries smoke at different rates, and while some places have fewer smoking doctors, others still have many. It's important for doctors to quit smoking to help their patients do the same.
Methodology
A comprehensive review of English-language studies published between 1974 and 2004 on tobacco smoking among physicians.
Potential Biases
Some studies used convenience samples rather than true random sampling, which may affect the reliability of the data.
Limitations
Only English-language papers were included, which may have led to missing relevant studies published in other languages.
Participant Demographics
The review included studies from various countries, with a focus on physicians' smoking habits.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website