As part of a world survey of the habits, knowledge and attitudes of medical students regarding tobacco we report a study in 15 medical schools from nine Asian countries. Some 1646 first year and 1587 final year students were included, of whom 59% were male. The prevalence of daily smoking in males was 4% in first year and 11% in final year; of occasional smoking 18% and 24% respectively, both with considerable variations between countries. The rates were very low in women. Male exsmokers varied from 3% to 24% in different centres. Overall, 33% of smokers had made a serious attempt to quit; 44% expected to have succeeded within 5 years. Over 80% of non- or exsmokers, but only 60% of smokers, thought smoking was harmful to health. There was gross underestimation of tobacco's causal role in a number of important diseases, e.g. coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, emphysema, bladder cancer and neonatal mortality. There were notable defects both in training and in motivation to counsel smoking patients. There was only partial knowledge of legislative and other measures to discourage smoking, e.g. only 44% of final year students (26% of smokers) thought increased taxation an important measure. In knowledge and attitudes there was little difference between the sexes, but in most aspects smokers had notably lower scores.

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To assess attitudes and opinions of French cardiologists towards tobacco, a postal survey was performed in 1993 of all members of the French Society of Cardiology using a questionnaire designed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Union against tuberculosis and lung diseases (IUATLD) for health professionals. 730 cardiologists responded to the mailing. The mean age of them was 47 + or - 9 years, 84% were males. The prevalence of smoking was 27% (14% daily smokers and 13% occasionally smokers). There were more never smokers in age group < 45 than in those aged 45 and more (33% vs 21%). Of daily smokers, 42% claimed to have made a serious attempt to stop smoking, but only 16% expected to have stopped within five years of the survey. French cardiologists aged 29-45 years had a better knowledge of tobacco related respiratory and cardiovascular diseases than those over 45 years old. Only 64% (54% of daily smokers) would counsel a patient to stop smoking if he did not have a smoking related illness and did not himself raise the question. 53% thought they had sufficient knowledge to advise their patients on stopping smoking. The results compared to those of the French general practitioners survey, showed a lower prevalence of daily smokers. French cardiologists especially those aged 29-45, have a better knowledge of the risk of cardiovascular diseases. But only 64% of them would advise any smoker patients. These results also demonstrated the influence of personal smoking on the attitude of cardiologists towards smoker patients.