REVIEW PAPER
The historical decline of tobacco smoking among Australian physicians: 1964–1997
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1
WorkCover New South Wales Research Centre of Excellence, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, Australia
 
2
Anton Breinl Centre for Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
 
 
Submission date: 2008-09-04
 
 
Acceptance date: 2008-12-29
 
 
Publication date: 2008-12-29
 
 
Tobacco Induced Diseases 2008;4(December):13
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Physicians occupy an important position as tobacco control exemplars and their own smoking habits are known to influence how effective they may be in such a role.

Methods:
A comprehensive review of all published manuscripts describing tobacco usage rates and tobacco control activities in the Australian medical profession between 1964 and 1997.

Results:
Some of the earliest surveys revealed that around one-quarter of Australian physicians were smoking in the mid twentieth century, a rate which rapidly declined in the 1970s and 1980s, with reductions beyond that achieved by the general population.

Conclusions:
Overall, our review suggests that not only do contemporary Australian physicians smoke at very low rates when compared internationally, but that an active professional community can also make a real difference to the lifestyle choices of its own members.

 
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