MEDICINSKI GLASNIK

Incidence of smoking and nicotine depedence among medical
workers
Željko Martinović 1 , Cvita Martinović 2 , Mladen Čuturić 1
1 Department of Surgery; 2 Department of Internal Medicine, Croatian Hospital “Dr. Fra Mato Nikolić”, Nova Bila
ABSTRACT
Aim To determine the frequency of smoking and nicotine dependence level of active smokers among
medical workers.
Methods The research encompassed a sample of 66 medical workers of the Croatian Hospital “Dr. Fra
Mato Nikolić” in Nova Bila using surveys and Fagerstrom’s modified test for nicotine dependence.
Results There were of 66 examinees,37 (56.1%) of them being smokers, 19 (51.4%) female and 18
(48.6%) male. The average value of nicotine dependence score was 8 points, which represented a high
level of nicotine dependence.
Conclusion Smoking as a preventable health risk factor is a big problem even for medical workers
themselves. Medical workers, active smokers, have a high level of nicotine dependence requiring a
professional treatment.
Key words: smoking, medical workers, level of nicotine dependence, Fagerstorm’s test
Original submission:
19 November 2008;
Revised submission:
30 March 2009;
Accepted:
13 April 2009.
Martinović et al Učestalost pušenja i nikotinska ovisnost
217