Knowledge, Attitude and Practice regarding smoking among medical students
Abstract
Background: Tobacco smoking is a risk factor for many disease and cancers and one of the leading causes of death. Smoking is rampant among medical students all over the world. This study has been aimed at studying the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding smoking and awareness of smoking related legislation among medical students.
Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among the medical students in a Medical college. All students given consent were interviewed using a pre-designed and pretested questionnaire at a convenient time. Study and confidentiality aspects were explained to the students. Data were collected regarding knowledge, attitude and practice of smoking.
Results: Prevalence of smoking was 18% among male students and nil among female students. Mean age of starting smoking was 18 years. 68% were daily smoker, and smoke 10 or fewer cigarettes daily. 44% got influenced by friends in initiating smoking. 63% smoker have smoker in friends or family. 36% of smokers have habit of alcohol consumption associated with smoking. 32% did not aware of legislation related to smoking. 20% students are aware that smoking is banned in educational institution.
Conclusion: Students are trying to quite the smoking, support from friends and family could contribute significantly in helping them. Awareness regarding legislation related to smoking should be incorporated in students counseling activities.
Downloads
References
2. MPOWER.A WHO report on tobacco endemic 2008 Available from http.//www.who.int/tobacco/mpower browsed on 19/07/2015.
3. Peto R et al. Mortality from smoking worldwide. British medical Bulletin 1996,52(1):12-21
4.Statistics from world tobacco day . Available from http.//www.who.int/tobacco day/ 2009 browsed on 20/07/2015
5. A report on India Global Health Professionals 2006 by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi World Health Organization India Office, New Delhi, pg:5.
6. Khuder SA, Dayal, mulgi AB. Age of smoking onset and its effect on smoking cessation. Addictive behavior 1991,24(5):673-677.
7. Sailesh Mohan et al. Tobacco use among medical professionals in Kerala, India: The need for enhanced tobacco cessation and control efforts. Science direct Addictive Behavoirs, Dec 2006;31(12):2313-18.
8. Ranjeeta Kumari and Bhola Nath. Study on the Use of Tobacco Among Male Medical Students in Lucknow. Indian Journal of Community Medicine 2008 April; 33(2): 100–103.
9. Zhou lei, Huang jingheng, Liu jianzhong, Smoking among shanghai medical students and the need for comprehensive intervention strategies. Health Promotion International; 1997 : vol. 12, no. 1: 27-31
10. Barbara D Avanzo, Carlo La Vecchia, Eva Negri. Age at starting smoking and number of cigarettes smoked. Annals of epidemiology, 1994; 4(6):455-459
11. Rachel Cooper et al. Smoking habits of medical school students in Turkey: Has anything changed. Turkish Journal of Cancer, 2004; 34(4):146-149.
Copyright (c) 2016 Author (s). Published by Siddharth Health Research and Social Welfare Society
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
OAI - Open Archives Initiative
