Physicians' smoking and its exemplary effect.

Data presented are based on more than one hundred surveys on physicians' smoking, carried out in 31 countries since 1951. Prevalences by gender are shown in two figures. For 13 countries, it is possible to compare the trend in smoking prevalence among physicians with the trend among the general population. In ten countries, smoking prevalences decreased over time for male physicians and the general population. This suggests a positive influence of the physicians' example in those countries.