The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Recognize the frequency and causes of smoking among future physicians

Methods: A randomized anonymous self-administered survey was performed among medicine students near graduation at Buenos Aires University. There were 295 students surveyed, of whom 114 (38.6%) were men and 181 (61.4%) women, with an average age of 26.1 years.

Results: 27.8% of the total number were Non Smokers (NS), 28.5% had only tried on some opportunity (SP), 9.2% were ex-smokers (ES), and 34.6% were smokers (S); 70.0% of them wanted to cease, and 60.0% had attempted it, of their own will and without another aid Considered that smoking was an addiction: 72.3% Resided with smokers; NS:35.0% ; SP: 51.0%; ES: 69.0% ; S: 58.0% (p=0.0049). Among those who did not have smoking friends, 0.9% were S, of those with a minority of smoking friends, 40.2% were S, and with a majority of smoking friends 58.8% were S (p=0.0000) . Remembered having experienced some educational activity about tobacco: 60.7% . Ignored the smoking prohibition in hospitals: 16.9% Believed that prohibition was respected: 3.4%. Smoked more when studying: 79.1% of S. In this study, the biggest relationship of S has been with smoker friends and with smoker residential mates. A high smoking prevalence is sadly evidenced, if we keep in mind their future as doctors in medicine. Their knowledge and training do not suffice to prevent the effects and treatment of smoking, so it would be necessary to reinforce their learning by means of changes in the educational curricula.