High prevalence of smoking in Northern Greece

Abstract

Aim:

To investigate the prevalence of smoking in the general population and in specific population sub-groups in Northern Greece.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period 1999–2001 on a 5% sample (23,840) of those people aged between 21 to 80 out of a total general population of 653,249. 21,854/23,840 general population subjects were interviewed. In addition, we interviewed 9,276 high school students, 1,072 medical students, 597 medical doctors within the National Health System, 825 teachers, and 624 subjects who regularly exercised in a privately-owned gym. A specially modified ICRF study group questionnaire was used.

Results:

34.4% of the general population sample were current smokers (47.8% of males and 21.6% of females). Smoking prevalence rates in the population sub-groups were: 29.6% of high school students; 40.7% of medical students; 44.9% of medical doctors; 46.4% of teachers; and 36.9% of the gym group.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of smoking in Northern Greece is high. High school and medical students present with high smoking rates, and the same situation is observed in medical doctors and teachers. An intensification of preventive antismoking measures is required.

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