Smoking among hospital doctors in Israel and their attitudes regarding anti-smoking legislation

Anti-smoking legislation has been implemented in several countries. In order to study the attitudes of Israeli doctors to such legislation, 260 hospital doctors were questioned regarding their smoking habits and attitudes towards anti-smoking legislation. It was discovered that 15.8% are current smokers [40% of radiologists, 25% of surgeons and anesthetists, and 8% of internists and pediatricians (P=0.0005)], of which 76% began smoking before the age of 20, and 54% tried to quit at least once. 24.2% of the current non-smokers are prior smokers who stopped, 92% of non-smokers and 83% of smokers tell their patients to quit (P=0.10). 69% feel that cigarette sales should be limited to those of 18 y and older, 77% that advertisements for cigarettes should be prohibited, and 74% that nicotine should be recognized as an addictive substance. Doctors who smoke may have difficulty promoting healthy behavior among their patients. They must be offered help in order to quit, and emphasis should be placed on prevention among medical students.