Physicians' role in advancing tobacco control in China

Abstract

China has ratified the FCTC and is working towards implementing tobacco control measures to combat the massive health and economic consequences of tobacco use. Physicians will need to play a leading role in this fight as they have done in countries such as Australia where measures to address the tobacco epidemic are more advanced. At present in China barriers such as physicians' own smoking status and underestimation of the impact interventions with their patients can have means that their potentially positive contribution is far from realised. Physicians have a responsibility to lead in tobacco control. This should begin with their own behaviour and practices including quitting smoking if a..