[Screening by general practitioners in smoking among young people aged 12 to 16 years]

Objective: To know whether general practitioners in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais realize screened for tobacco use among youth aged 12 to 16years.

Method: This is a cross-sectional study of 300 general practitioners in the region Nord-Pas-de-Calais (150 in each department). These physicians were randomly selected according to the quota method (with XLSTAT(©) software). Upon agreement, we send them, by various means (e-mail, fax or mail their choice), the questionnaire.

Results: One hundred and fifty-seven (68%) questionnaires were returned. Thirty-seven percent (58) of physicians routinely asked their young patients, during questioning, if they smoke, 58.5% (92) sometimes and 4.5% (7) do not ask. Information on smoking was issued by 86% of physicians surveyed.

Conclusion: General practitioners perform a screening for tobacco use among young patients aged 12 to 16years. They face certain obstacles which the presence of parents during the consultation.