[Smoking habits among physicians in Dakar].

A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in March 1999 on the prevalence of smokers and smoking habits among physicians practicing in the Dakar region. The study population was composed of 163 physicians; 128 male (78.5%) and 35 female (21.5%). The prevalence of smokers was 27.6%. The average age of the smokers was 40.5 (+/- 6.2) years (extremes between 30 and 61 years) and an average duration of 18 (+/- 6.6) years in smoking. Men smoked more than women (93.9% versus 6.7%) with 56.4% of heavy smokers. Specialists represented 63.3% and generalists 36.4%. Initiating factors were stress (28.9%), circle of friends/acquaintances (24.4%), fashion (24.4%), pleasure (20%) and advertisements (2.2%). A little over 82% smoked in public places, 68.9% in their work places and 49.5% before children. The average time duration smoking was stopped followed by relapse was 15.7 (+/- 9.7) months. 97.7% of smokers manifested their intention to stop. Nicotine dependence according too the Fagerström questionnaire was average (37.9%), high (39.6%) and very high (12.6%). Smoking is a reality in the medical environment in Dakar. Specific campaigns aimed at physicians will be necessary to hope for a sustainable change in behavior and for a much more pronounced implication in the fight against tobacco addiction.