PREVALENCE OF SMOKING AMONG MALE MEDICAL STUDENT

*Dr. Rakesh Garlapati, Dr. Vennela D., Dr. Thanuj K. V., Dr. Snehitha V., Dr. Suhas S. Aithal

ABSTRACT

Introduction: To investigate the prevalence of smoking among male medical students and to assess the association between smoking and sociodemographical factors, reasons for smoking and attempts to stop smoking. Material and methods: This is a cross sectional study. The study subjects were 299 male medical students. The tool used in the study was self-administered questionnaire based on a modified WHO questionnaire to survey the smoking habits of health professionals. Results: The results in the present study revealed that 22%(67 out of 299) of the students were smokers. Among them 62.7%(42 out of 67) started smoking between 15-20 years of age. 40.3%(27 out of 67) considered peer pressure as influential in starting to smoke. The other common factors responsible were stress (26 out of 67) and coolness factor (19 out of 67). 64.2%(43 out of 67) of the smokers wished to quit smoking. Ill effects seemed to be the most common reason to quit smoking. 89%(266 out of 299) were aware of the public ban on smoking. Conclusion: All possible efforts and strategies should be considered to control smoking. Medical and other health colleges should provide educational programs and teach specific courses on tobacco control in order to prepare and equip future health professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to intervene with smoking effectively.

Keywords: Medical Students, Prevalence, Smoking.