Tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, and cessation counseling among medical students: cross-country data from the Global Health Professions Student Survey (GHPSS), 2005-2008

Background: Physicians who smoke are less likely to ask patients about their smoking and initiate cessation interventions. Hence it is important to study the prevalence of tobacco use, attitude and training of health professional students. Objectives were to study prevalence and attitudes towards tobacco use and training related to tobacco cessation.Methods: Armed Forces Medical college-based cross-sectional survey by anonymous, self-administered questionnaire as per Global Health Professions Student Survey (GHPSS) was conducted. Data was compiled and analyzed for various variables as per the GHPSS questionnaire.Results: Forty-two percent of the students had ever smoked cigarettes and 24% were current smokers. Nearly one in five had tried their first cigarette before 20 years of age. Male gender was associated with smoking. There is a significant association between not smoking and support for smoking ban in public places. Almost all the respondents (98.1%) thought smoking should be banned in all enclosed public places. In light of 20.6% of all respondents who smoked in college buildings during past this year indicated a gap between their knowledge, attitude and behavior. There was a strong desire to quit smoking but only 42% reported receiving help/ advice to stop smoking. Only one in ten reported receiving formal training in smoking cessation techniques.Conclusions: The fight against tobacco can get a boost through interventions aimed at health care professional students. Active Interventions should be made to address smoking issues among medical students. Skill based medical school curriculum should incorporate and emphasize on acquiring effective smoking cessation skills.

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Tobacco use among medical students in Europe: Results of a multicentre study using the Global Health Professions Student Survey

Public Health ◽

10.1016/j.puhe.2011.10.009 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 126 (2) ◽

pp. 159-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

G. La Torre ◽

W. Kirch ◽

M. Bes-Rastrollo ◽

R.M. Ramos ◽

M. Czaplicki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Global Health ◽

Multicentre Study ◽

Tobacco Use ◽

Health Professions ◽

Student Survey

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Prevalence of tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke and knowledge on smoking cessation among students of health professions in Central Greece: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036512 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. e036512

Author(s):

Athina A Samara ◽

George Rachiotis ◽

Sofia Pettemeridou ◽

Konstantinos Papastamatiou ◽

Konstantinos Tourlakopoulos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Tobacco Use ◽

Secondhand Smoke ◽

Health Professions ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Current Smoking ◽

Central Greece ◽

Exposure To Secondhand Smoke

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke among students of health professions (SHPs) and determine possible risk factors for current smoking. In addition, we sought to investigate the level of students’ knowledge regarding smoking cessation.DesignCross-sectional.SettingCentral Greece.ParticipantsA convenient sample of 822 SHP volunteers were used, composed of 365 medical students, 123 students from a biochemistry department, 71 students from a nursing department, 176 from medical laboratory department and 84 students from a veterinary medicine department.Primary and secondary outcome measuresWe investigated the prevalence of current smoking and secondhand smoke, their determinants and SHP’s knowledge and attitudes regarding smoking cessation. Univariate and logistic regression statistical analysis were used in order to identify risk factors associated with current smoking.ResultsThe prevalence of current smoking was estimated at 23.5% (95% CI 20.7% to 26.5%), while 49% of current smokers reported they wanted to quit smoking. The prevalence of current e-cigarette use was 1.2%. In addition, 96.5% (95% CI 94.9% to 97.5%) of SHP have been exposed to secondhand smoke at least 1 day per week. Logistic regression analysis showed that increasing age (p<0.001), alcohol consumption (p<0.001) and exposure to secondhand smoke in the home (p<0.001) were independent risk factors for current smoking. Notably, only 11.6% of the participants had learnt about methods to be used for smoking cessation.ConclusionsOur results underline the need for integrated tobacco control initiatives that should discourage tobacco use among SHP, promote smoke free schools of health science, and implement programs that train SHP in effective cessation-counseling techniques.

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