[Smoking habits and attitude toward tobacco use among health professionals in Denmark in 1996]

The purpose of the study was to investigate smoking habits in different groups of health professionals. A total of 7844 were interviewed using postally distributed questionnaires. The response rate was 85%. The study showed a much lower smoking prevalence among groups of health professionals compared to the normal population apart from social assistants and hospital porters, where the smoking rate was even higher than in the Danish population. Among medical doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives the smoking rate had decreased faster from earlier investigations than among the Danish population. Future strategy in Danish policy concerning campaigns in the population and among health professionals as role-models is discussed. Fifty-two percent of the interviewed agreed that health professionals should not smoke, while on duty, but with quite big differences between the groups (min. 31% among hospital porters, max. 73% among dentists).

[Exposure to passive smoking of hospital employees and attitude to smoking at workplaces in 1992]

The aim of the study was to investigate exposure to passive smoking at work and the attitudes towards smoking at work among Danish hospital employees. It was carried out as a cross-sectional questionnaire study in collaboration with Bispebjerg Hospital and Tobaksskaderådet, to which 3154 (84%) employees responded. Results showed that 40% of the employees were exposed to passive smoking at work. Fifty-seven percent of the non-smokers and 14% of the smokers had symptoms associated with exposure to tobacco smoke. Every third employee complained of headache, coughing, eye irritation or breathlessness, and most were worried about the possible long term impact on health of passive smoking. In conclusion, surprisingly many employees are unwillingly exposed to the effects of passive smoking during working hours. Rules on smoking restriction are needed at the Danish health institutions to ensure the right to work in an environment free of tobacco smoke.

[Smoking habits among hospital employees in 1992]

The aim of the study was to investigate the smoking habits of employees of a Danish hospital on the basis of a questionnaire given in October 1992 and compare the results with two similar previous studies of smoking habits among the Danish population (1991) and physicians and nurses (1989). It was performed as a cross-sectional questionnaire study in collaboration with Bispebjerg Hospital and Tobaksskaderådet. Three thousand one hundred and fifty-four (84%) employees responded. The results showed that 37% of male and 33% of female employees were daily smokers. The prevalence of smokers and the distribution of smoking habits according to social class of the employees were equal to the general population except for male physicians and female nurses where the prevalence of smokers was lower than the corresponding social classes. Female doctors smoked as much as class I from the population study. Twenty-two percent of male and 17% of female employees smoked 15 cigarettes a day or more (heavy smokers). Eighty-seven percent of the smokers smoked at work, and one-third smoked more than five cigarettes on each workday. It is concluded that the smoking habits of Danish hospital employees correspond to the smoking habits of the general population. Rules on smoking restriction in Danish hospitals are needed. The smoking habits of female doctors calls for attention.