Measurement of expired carbon monoxide among medical students to assess smoking behaviour

CO-Measurement of medical students was taken during a compulsary public hea lth training at the University of Vienna. The students were not informed pr eviously so a non-response bias was excluded. Measurements were done with B edfont EC50-MICRO Carbon monoxide monitor. The cut off point was set at 11 ppM. One hundred and seventy-three students were measured. Define indicatio n of active smoking was found in 9%. With exception of one student all the others with carbon monoxide over 10 ppM called themselves active smokers. C O measurement will replace at some stage the usual question regarding the n umber of cigarettes consumed. Students also had the opportunity to learn a new diagnostic technique.