Survey of Smoking Habits of Massachusetts Physicians

Abstract

IN February, 1954, the Cancer Control Unit at the New England Deaconess Hospital Cancer Research Institute distributed a questionnaire to the members of the Massachusetts Medical Society. This report is based on 4104 completed returns received before April 1, 1954; the prompt response by so many members is indicative of their interest in the possible relation between bronchiogenic carcinoma and smoking.A third (32.9 per cent) of the 4104 physicians report that they do not now use tobacco, although half of them (16.5 per cent) had previously smoked. A fifth (19.7 per cent) report that they are using less tobacco . . .