Objective: A survey was carried out to assess smoking among students, and administration and teaching staff in Hokkaido University School of Medicine in 2003.
Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey on smoking of undergraduates, graduate students, administration personnel and teaching staff in Hokkaido University School of Medicine in February 2003. The majority of question items were targeted for all subjects while some items were addressed separately to smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers.
Results and discussion: The survey showed that 1) the smoking rate of the study subjects is lower than that of physicians, in general; 2) dependence on cigarettes among smokers is relatively low; and 3) 80% of the ex-smokers are in the maintenance stage, while 20% are in the action stage. Furthermore, 1) there was a tendency for smokers and non-smokers to be concerned with the health effects of passive smoking than that of active smoking; 2) smokers tended to ignore the unpleasant smell of cigarettes as compared with ex-smokers and non-smokers; 3) although the three groups acknowledged the health affects of smoking, they are not proactive in the promotion of anti-smoking; and 4) everyone is generally concerned with the smell of cigarettes but tended to accept it in the school of medicine.
Conclusions: It is an important issue how smokers in the interested stage can move to the anti-smoking stage, and how those in the action stage shift to the maintenance stage. We have carried out anti-smoking events and campaigns on the campus based on the results of the survey and further plan to formulate a strategy for anti-smoking on the campus. The specific activities will be undertaken and the results evaluated in future.