Change in smoking frequency and affecting factors among the students of a medical faculty in Ankara – Turkey: 2013-2016

Abstract

Aims Tobacco use of healthcare professionals is a major problem in combating tobacco in Turkey. As being the physicians of the future, smoking behaviors of medical students are also important. The aim of this study is to determine the smoking prevalence and affecting factors of medical students as well as the change occurring during the study period at medical school. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at the XXX University, Ankara, Turkey in March 2013 and a similar study was repeated in March 2016. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was developed and used for data collection. In addition, Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence was applied to the current smokers. In 2013 106 students, in 2016 125 students participated to the study with enrollment rates of 84.8% and 100% respectively. Results In 2016, 59.2% of the students attempted to smoke at least one puff, 34.4% had been regular smokers, 31.2% were current smokers. There was no statistically significant change in the smoking behavior of students during the period of 2013-2016. When all risk factors were evaluated together, it was determined that being a regular smoker was only affected by permission to smoke in the place of residence and the risk of being a current smoker is influenced by male sex and by permission to smoke in the place of residence. Conclusions More than half of medical students started smoking in their university lives. A need for effective preventive and ameliorative interventions during the medical school years is clear. Funding The study was supported by Başkent University Research Fund.

Keywords

• smoking
• students