Smoking - do vascular surgeons practise what they preach?

Smoking is a major health problem in Great Britain and cigarette consumptio n is rising. Although there are studies concerning the smoking habits of ho spital physicians, nurses and oral and maxillofacial surgeons, little is kn own about the smoking habits of vascular surgeons and the advice given by t hem to their patients. A questionnaire survey was conducted involving 422 m embers of the Vascular Surgical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. The r esponse rate was 74%. The median age of responders was 51 years (range, 32- 69 years) of whom 98% were men. Of responders, 98% routinely advise patient s to stop smoking, 10% advise nicotine gum/patch, 39% provide antismoking i nformation sheets, 11% are involved in an antismoking clinic/group and 74% cheek to see whether patients continue to smoke. The majority of responders would be prepared to offer revascularisation in patients who continue to s moke. Only 8 surgeons (3%) would not advise revascularisation in this group of patients. Only 10% of respondents were current smokers, 37% were ex-smo kers and 53% had never smoked. Vascular surgeons, therefore, seem to practi se what they preach.