[Smoking in Porto Alegre: prevalence and the role of health professionals in its prevention].

This study was undertaken in 1988 in order to evaluate the prevalence of smoking, the degree of awareness of smokers and ex-smokers to risks of smoking, and the role of health professionals in the control of smoking in Porto Alegre. A total of 407 persons between 15 and 64 years were interviewed in a population-based survey. Of these, 170 (41.8%) smoked. Among ex-smokers, 85.7% stopped due to awareness of the harm that cigarettes can cause. Only 16.5% of smokers and ex-smokers were warned to the risks of smoking by health professionals before acquiring the habit. After becoming smokers, only 51.4% were warned. These indices are a cause for concern as we believe that prevention is the best approach to control of the smoking epidemic.