Vol 74, No 4 (2006)
Research paper
Published online: 2006-09-08
Submitted: 2013-02-22
Tobacco smoking among the first-year medical students
Alicja Siemińska, Joanna M. Jassem, Maja Uherek, Tomasz Wilanowski, Radosław Nowak, Ewa Jassem:
Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2006;74(4):377-382.
Vol 74, No 4 (2006)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Published online: 2006-09-08
Submitted: 2013-02-22
Abstract
The studies have shown that despite studying medicine the rate of tobacco smokers among students is still high. Moreover, in Poland the incidence of smoking is increasing among the youngsters. The study was designed to assess the rate of smokers among the first-year students of two consecutive courses at the Medical University of Gdańsk and define their attitudes towards tobacco smoking. The voluntary, multiple-choice questionnaires were distributed among 412 students. The rate of response was 100%. Twenty one percent of responders
were current smokers (17% females and 28% men), whereas 7% declared previous smoking. There was no correlation
between incidence of smoking among students and their parents (p = 0.11). 61% of smokers declared the will
to give up their habit and of those 94% were aware of the negative impact of cigarettes on their health. In the group which did not declare the will to quit smoking only 75% knew what the impact of cigarettes on their health was; p = 0.02. Only 23% of smokers considered anti-nicotine therapy effective. Almost a half of smokers considered nicotine replacement therapy ineffective for them in quitting cigarette smoking. Conclusion: The rate of smokers
among the first-year medical students is lower than in general population, but it is still relatively high. However more than a half of smokers wants to give up their habit. Of those who are not willing to, 25% is not aware of the cigarettes’ impact on their health. These results call for further anti-nicotine actions.
Abstract
The studies have shown that despite studying medicine the rate of tobacco smokers among students is still high. Moreover, in Poland the incidence of smoking is increasing among the youngsters. The study was designed to assess the rate of smokers among the first-year students of two consecutive courses at the Medical University of Gdańsk and define their attitudes towards tobacco smoking. The voluntary, multiple-choice questionnaires were distributed among 412 students. The rate of response was 100%. Twenty one percent of responders
were current smokers (17% females and 28% men), whereas 7% declared previous smoking. There was no correlation
between incidence of smoking among students and their parents (p = 0.11). 61% of smokers declared the will
to give up their habit and of those 94% were aware of the negative impact of cigarettes on their health. In the group which did not declare the will to quit smoking only 75% knew what the impact of cigarettes on their health was; p = 0.02. Only 23% of smokers considered anti-nicotine therapy effective. Almost a half of smokers considered nicotine replacement therapy ineffective for them in quitting cigarette smoking. Conclusion: The rate of smokers
among the first-year medical students is lower than in general population, but it is still relatively high. However more than a half of smokers wants to give up their habit. Of those who are not willing to, 25% is not aware of the cigarettes’ impact on their health. These results call for further anti-nicotine actions.
Keywords
medicine students; prevalence of cigarette smoking; addiction; nicotine replacement therapy
Title
Tobacco smoking among the first-year medical students
Journal
Advances in Respiratory Medicine
Issue
Vol 74, No 4 (2006)
Article type
Research paper
Pages
377-382
Published online
2006-09-08
Bibliographic record
Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2006;74(4):377-382.
Keywords
medicine students
prevalence of cigarette smoking
addiction
nicotine replacement therapy
Authors
Alicja Siemińska
Joanna M. Jassem
Maja Uherek
Tomasz Wilanowski
Radosław Nowak
Ewa Jassem: