Tobacco Smoking in a Mine Firm in Asturias: Habits and Knowledge

Abstract

Tobacco is the first avoidable cause of mortality and morbidity in the developed countries. A survey on the tobacco habit was carried out in a mining firm of 1420 workmen. The target was to quantifly the severity of this problem, to carry out an information campaing and to provide help with nicotine chewing gam and psychological support. A63 % were usual smokers; a 20,l % werc nonsmokers; and a 16,8 % were former smokers. The group of smokers had a smaller knoweledge on the risks of tobaco than the other two groups. Only a 1 % of smokers went to the audio-visual information meetings in their respective localities and to the antitobacco consulting of our hospital. An informative programme on ?Tobaco and Health? was sent to all them.