Characteristics of smoking among physicians in the Federal District of Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To profile the characteristics of smoking among physicians working in the Federal District of Brazil. METHODS: A questionnaire on smoking, adapted from that used by the World Health Organization, was mailed to all physicians registered with the Federal District Regional Council of Medicine. Of the 7023 questionnaires mailed, 830 (12%) were duly completed and returned. RESULTS: Among the physicians participating in the study, the prevalence of smoking was 7.2% (5.9% being regular smokers and 1.3% being occasional smokers). The remainder of the sample consisted of nonsmokers (70.1%) and former smokers (22.7%). In terms of gender, approximately 8.5% of the male physicians were smokers, compared with 5.3% of the female physicians (p > 0.05). Of the physicians who smoked, 80% had taken up the habit before the age of 20, 13% from 21 to 30, and 7% after the age of 31. The prevalence of smoking by specialty was as follows: Surgeons, 10.3%; Anesthesiologists, 10.3%; Clinicians, 9.1%; Gynecologists, 2.9%; and Pediatricians, 2.4%. Approximately 75% of the smoking physicians had been advised by their own doctors to stop smoking, although only 34.9% had tried to quit smoking with the preceding year. Of the physicians responding, 57.1% agreed that smoking is a health hazard, and 26.3% reported smoking in hospitals or doctors offices. CONCLUSION: Efforts to control smoking in the Federal District should be intensified and, despite the fact that the prevalence of smoking is declining among physicians, smoking cessation programs should target this population.

Analysis of pulmonary mechanics in an experimental model of sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether pulmonary mechanics are altered in mice with sepsis. METHODS: A total of 40 Balb/c mice were divided into two groups: survival (n = 21) and pulmonary mechanics (n = 19). The survival group was divided into three subgroups: control (n = 7), sublethal (n = 7) and lethal (n = 7). The pulmonary mechanics group was also divided into three subgroups: control (n = 5), sublethal (n = 7) and lethal (n = 7). Sepsis was induced through cecal ligation and puncture, the latter varying in degree (sublethal or lethal). At eight hours after the intervention, pulmonary mechanics were measured through end-inflation occlusion. In the pulmonary mechanics group, the following variables were studied: total pressure, resistance, viscoelasticity, dynamic compliance and static compliance. The data obtained were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The data for the survival group indicate the efficacy of the model employed. There were no statistically significant differences among the pulmonary mechanics subgroups in terms of dynamic compliance, static compliance, total pressure, resistance or viscoelasticity. CONCLUSION: At eight hours after cecal ligation and puncture, there were no changes in the lung parenchyma, nor were any alterations observed in the viscous and viscoelastic components of the lung.

Prevalence and characteristics of smoking among youth attending the University of Brasília in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of smoking and to describe the profile and smoking habits of students attending the Universidade de Brasília (University of Brasília) in Brasília, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 1341 students responded to a smoking questionnaire, adapted from the World Health Organization questionnaire, including questions directed at smokers, former smokers and nonsmokers. Twenty different courses in the areas of health, exact sciences and human sciences were evaluated. The students included in the study were duly enrolled in day courses and were evaluated during the second semester of 2003. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of smoking was 14.7%. Approximately 80.8% of the students were nonsmokers, and 4.5% were former smokers. In the study sample, 57.3% of the students were male. No significant difference (p > 0.05) in the prevalence of smoking was observed in terms of gender or class year. The mean age of the study population was 21.6 +/- 3.6 years, and the mean age at which the smoking habit was acquired was 17 +/- 2.8 years. The percentage of smokers was higher in the Geology, Communication, and History courses (32.9, 26.3 and 24.4%, respectively). Mean consumption was 7.5 cigarettes per day. The majority (72.6%) of the students used commercial cigarettes rather than other types of tobacco. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of smoking observed in the present study is similar to that reported for other universities and indicates the need for smoking control policies in university environments.