Background: In developed countries, tobaccoism constitutes the main public health problem capable of prevention. Health professionals comprise the sector with the greatest power of influence in reducing smoking habits. Nevertheless, cooperation is determined by their own personal habits and attitudes to smoking. This study describes the prevalence of smoking and attitudes towards tobaccoism amongst primary medical care personnel within Area 4 of Insalud in Madrid.
Methods: Of the 910 workers surveyed, 803 responded (response rate: 88%). 42.3% were smokers (35.3% on a daily basis and 7% occasionally) and the average smoker consumed 17 cigarrettes per day. 25.9% were ex-smokers and 31.7% non-smokers. 95% of non-smokers and 85% of smokers considered that smoking should be forbidden in medical centres (p << 0.001). 11% of smokers did so in front of patients (10% of doctors and 3.3% of nursing staff). 58.4% of smokers stated that they would participate in an assistance scheme designed to help them give up the habit.
Conclusions: Results indicate that there still exists a large percentage of primary medical care personnel that smoke and that attitudes are not those that would be expected from a group of people seen as an example by others. Priority must be given to intensifying awareness, assisting people to give up smoking and to training courses.