The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Smoking exerts an influence over physicians' attitudes and actions towards tobacco . Smoking prevalence in Argentina is 34% . Previous national surveys found a 30% prevalence among medical students and 25% prevalence among specialists . We conducted this study to:1-measure smoking prevalence among hospital-based physicians of the Province of Buenos Aires, the biggest region of Argentina. 2- evaluate knowledge of tobacco issues and smoking cessation strategies. 3- explore the enforcing of smoking bans in public Hospitals .

Methods: cross-sectional survey in Public Hospitals between November 2004 and October 2005 using a previously validated questionnaire and CO measurements in expired air (COesp).

Results: We randomly selected 1257 physicians from the payrolls of 5 Hospitals. Rejection rate was 2%. CO esp were obtained in 99%. Median age: 43 years. Males: 58%. In the studied sample 81% had ever smoked, 69% had smoked at least for six months, 33% were current smokers, and 26% were daily smokers. COesp values > 10 ppm correlated adequately with reported smoking. Receiving any education on tobacco during their training was acknowledged by 27% and 36% declared smoking ban was enforced in their Hospitals. Perception of ban was influenced by smoker status, Hospital and medical specialty. Conclusions: smoking is highly prevalent among the studied group . Smoking bans are poorly enforced and education is also poor. Interventions are immediately required to induce smoking cessation in physicians and turn them into effective agents of the fight against tobacco.