Predictors of smoking among Saudi dental students in Jeddah

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess tobacco use, secondhand smoke exposure, knowledge of health risks, and smoking predictors among dental students attending King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted and 420 dental students were invited to participate. Binary logistic regression analyses assessed the predictors of smoking. Results: A total of 336 dental students completed the questionnaires with 25% reporting current or previous tobacco use and 96% reporting secondhand smoke exposure. Nearly half of all smokers initiated smoking during the dental program. The logistic regression results revealed that being a male (OR = 7.1, p