Determinants of smoking cessation among physicians and teachers from northeastern Italy.

: Determinants of smoking cessation among 909 physicians and teachers from the Northeast of Italy were investigated between March and November 1985. Men were heavier smokers than women and showed a larger cessation rate (46% of men and 32% of women who had ever smoked were ex-smokers). The stronger determinants of smoking cessation turned out to be a high number of cigarettes smoked per day, and (especially for men) a relatively old age. From the study, it appears that smoking cessation in Italy is not motivated by disease prevention considerations but is the result of disease-linked symptoms. Antismoking campaigns should, therefore, more strongly emphasize the advantages (especially short-term ones) of quitting smoking while one is still well. For their exemplar role, physicians and teachers are on the front line of antismoking action: convincing them to stop smoking is, thus, an obvious priority.