[Smoking habits among medical students in Bergen]

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to examine smoking habits among the students in a Norwegian medical school and to assess how smoking habits vary by sex, age and class seniority.

Method: The study was performed by handing out to all students during plenum lectures a questionnaire on smoking habits. Students not present were sent the questionnaire by mail.

Results: 866 of 894 students (97%) responded; 8 questionnaires were excluded from the study. Among the remaining 858 students, 53% stated that they had never smoked, 14 % were ex-smokers, 28% were occasional smokers, and 5% reported that they smoked regularly. No differences were found with respect to age, sex and seniority.

Interpretation: The percentage of daily smokers among medical students was low, but the high percentage of occasional smokers may indicate that the prevalence of smoking among Norwegian doctors could increase.