Smoking facts and evidence among medical students from “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

Abstract

Background The purpose of this study is to identify the main reasons why medical students from “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania are smoking, how many of them are using cigarettes, what is their level of addiction, and moreover, what is their attitude towards smoking. Methods A questionnaire was distributed to the medical students of the “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, from February 14 to March 18, 2016. 969 medical students answered the questionnaire. The questionnaire was composed of 30 questions and Fagerstrom test. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. Results A total of 969 (277 males and 692 females) completed and returned the questionnaire, From a total of 308 first year students, 144 (46.8%) have been smoking (37.5% males and 62.5% females); The mean age a student begins smoking was 15.8 years. The most important reasons for cigarette smoking were: decrease of anxiety (51.4%), pleasure (48.8%) and habitude (43.7%). One hundred and forty six (34%) need to light up a new cigarette after 1-3 hours from the previous one. The study shows that one hundred ninety-one (44.2%) of current smokers want to stop smoking and two hundred forty (56%) have already tried it, but they failed. Eighty (18.5%) medical students quit smoking and the main reason was because smoking is harmful to human health (62.7%). According to the Fagerstrom test, 59% were evaluated to have low dependence, 33% moderate dependence and 8% high dependence. Conclusions The results of current study indicate a need to provide comprehensive tobacco control programs among medical students, and smoking cessation programs. An unceasing effort is needed by all concerned to reduce the number of smokers between medical students.

Keywords

• WCTOH