Attitudes of medical students on smoking

Abstract

Objective: Smoking is very important especially in young people as it can prevent health problems that may occur in later life. 90% of adult smokers smoked their first cigarette before the age of 18. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the attitudes of students of Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Medicine towards smoking. Methods: A questionnaire questioning smoking attitudes and behaviors of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students at Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Faculty of Medicine was prepared. Questionnaires were filled out on the basis of volunteering among all medical students. The data were recorded in SPSS-21 program. Descriptive data were analyzed. Results: The median age of 610 students included in the study was 20 (17-27) years. Of all students, 245 (40.2%) were male, 365 (59.8%) were female, 600 (98.4%) were single, and 10 (1.6%) were married. 183 (30%) of the students participating in the study were 1st grade, 127 (20.8%) were 2nd grade, 127 (20.8%) were 3rd grade, 83 (13.6) were 4th grade, 60 students (9.8%) were 5th grade students and 30 students (4.9) were 6th grade students. As a result of the study, smoking rate of students was 17.2% with 105 students; smoking cessation rate was determined as 7.5%. The mean number of smoked per day was median (minimum-maximum) 8 (1-30) and the mean smoking duration was 36 (2-108) months. Conclusion: It was concluded that there is a need for awareness education that will increase the attitudes and behaviors of the medical faculty students about smoking to more positive levels.