Prevalence of smoking among medical students, 1986-1995 *
A survey was carried out on smoking prevalence among fifth-year students at Kawasaki Medical School over the 10-year period from 1986 to 1995. Each student was asked about smoking habits when he/she visited our ward to see patients. The prevalence of smoking varied from 44.4―70.8％ in men and from 3.0―13.2％ in women. Medical student smoking rates were almost always lower than those of the general population of the same gender and age group, except for men in 1995. The average rate of smoking for the last five years (1991 ― 1995) has increased as compared with that for the previous five years (1986 ― 1990). Smoking rates in women were generally low but tended to be affected by the smoking status of male students. About half of the male smokers were moderate smokers ;i. e. their daily consumption was 11―20 cigarettes. It appears that medical school curriculum needs to be reexamined, and the whole staff should take action to improve the present smoking status in our medical school. (Accepted on February 21, 1998) Kawasaki Igakkaishi 23(4) : 235-248, 1997
