[Increased knowledgeability of the population and physicians on questions of prophylaxis--the basis for programs to prevent the main noninfectious diseases].

One of the main ways of improving health of the population and increasing the duration of life, especially active life, is the upbringing of habits of a healthy way of life among the population. Interviewing by mail of a representative sample of the population 3670 persons of both sexes aged 20 to 60 in Frunze showed that over one third knew nothing of a possibility of the prevention of cardiovascular and bronchopulmonary diseases and two thirds knew nothing of a possibility of cancer prevention. Physicians were also poorly oriented in the problems of prophylaxis of the main noncommunicable diseases. Enhancing measures to form hygienic habits of a healthy way of life in the population and reorientation of medical workers to enhancing prophylactic measures, particularly primary prevention, was found appropriate.