Smoking habits of physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

The smoking habits of physicians in Riyadh city were studied as a first step towards surveying the habit among health professionals and then among the different sectors of the community. The aim was to provide basic information on the causes and pattern of smoking as a prerequisite for an effective control programme since smoking has negative health, social and economic effects. Of the 698 physicians who participated in the study 48% had smoked previously and 34% were current smokers; 55% of male physicians and 24% of female physicians had smoked previously, but current smokers constituted 38% and 16% respectively. Half the non-Saudi physicians and 37% of the Saudi physicians were previously smokers and 37% and 26% respectively were currently smoking. The habit had been started by 60% of smokers while studying in colleges of medicine or after graduation. About 60% tried seriously to quit smoking but only half of them were successful; 80% of the smokers did not smoke at work. The majority of all physicians agreed that smoking is hazardous to health and they were concerned about it