TRENDS OF SMOKING HABITS AMONG

MEDICAL STUDENTS

at Umm Al-Qura University, Faculty of Medicine

Abdulelah Nuqali

Abdulmoen Al-QarniAhmad Al-SharifAli Al-Shugaifi

Ammar Al-KhotaniMajed Al-Wagdani

Mohammed BadawiObaid Al-Barakati

Omar KhojahOmar Taibah

Research Group:

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS : Prof. Sirag Al Rady, Dr. Amer Khojah

Introduction

Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States

It is one of the major public health problems in Saudi Arabia

Also it is one of the major health problems among medical students in Saudi Arabia

Introduction

The smoking behaviors among the medical students are extremely important ( Why ? )

Because they are not only risking their health but making a bad leading example for the public.

Introduction

Introduction

Male Medical Student Smokers Prevalence

University

29.6 King Saud University ( KSA )

13.6 King Khalid University ( KSA )

Introduction

smoking rates among male medical students range between 3% in the United States and 58% in Japan.

Introduction

Many Studies found that tobacco smoking rates among medical students tend to increase between the year of entry and the final year

A total of 66 studies of tobacco usage among medical students demonstrated a linear trend of increasing prevalence

Final Year First Year Country

16% 7% India

20% 16% UK

3.8% 2.5% USA

Objectives

Objectives

Primary Objective :o To find out the smoking habits through academic years among

male medical students at UQU

Secondary Objectives :o To determine the frequency of smoking among male medical

student at UQUo To study the effect of medical school on smoking habits o To determine the frequency of students smoking inside the

campus

Objectives

Research Question :

Is there a difference in smokers prevalence between Basic Years ( 1st ,2nd and 3rd ) and

Clinical Years ( 4th , 5th and 6th ) ?

Methodology

Methodology

Type of study

Site

Time

Sample Size

Cross-Sectional Study

Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah

November 2009

247 Students ( out of 600 ) = 41%

Methodology

Statistical Software

Statistical Test

population The Male Medical Students

SPSS (version 15)

Chi-square test

Results

Smoking Status

Active Smokers

Ex Smokers

Non - Smokers

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Out of 247 students :73 ( 30 % ) Active Smoker21 ( 8 % ) Ex- Smoker153 ( 62 % ) Non- Smoker

First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

intermediate school

secondary school

medical college (basic Years)

medical college (clinical years)

Onset of Smoking

intermediate school 17( 18 %)Secondary school 34( 37 %)

Basic years 32( 34 %)Clinical Years 10( 11 %)

Smoking status & onset of smoking according to academic years

Academic Years(%)

Clinical Years Basic Years

40 21 Active smoker Smoking Status

8 9 Ex-Smoker

52 70 Non-Smoker

Significance: P=0.005

13 26intermediate school Onset of Smoking

24 54Secondary school

44 21Medical college-Basic

years

19 0Medical college-Clinical

Years

Significance: P=0.001

Smoking inside the campus

Smoking inside the campus

YesNo

Yes 50 ( 54 % ) !!No 43 ( 46 % )

Other Smoking Habits

Type of Smoking:Cigarettes 24 (25.5)Hookah 9 (9.6)Moa'assel19 (20.2)Sniff 1 ( 1.1)More than one 41 (43.6)

Smoking Frequency:Always 47 (51.1)Occasions 18 (19.6)Under Stress 8 (8.7)Rare 19 (20.7)

Smoking Consumption:1-10 … 29 (46.0)11-20 … 24 (38.1)21-30 … 8 (12.7)31-40 … 2 (3.2)

Other Smoking Habits

Motivation of smoking:Mimicry 9 (10.0)Curiosity and love of the experiment 39 (43.3)Recreation 40 (44.4)Expression of masculinity 2 (2.2)

Effect of medical school upon smoking:Start of smoking 9 (9.6)Increase of smoking frequency 31 (33.0) !!!Decrease of smoking Frequency 10 (10.6)No effect 36 (38.3)Smoking quitting 8 (8.5)

Medical Help:Yes 11 (12.1)No 80 (87.9)

Discussion

Discussion

Many students started smoking ( 10 % ) or increased their smoking ( 33 % ) rate after joining the medical school

What are the possible reasons? Extra freedom Increased stress ( due to hard work in study , training …etc ) Increased addiction of tobacco ( Psychological Addiction ) Increased income …etc

Discussion

Why smokers are not looking for help although they are fully aware harmful consequences of smoking?

Ignorance about the types of help that they may receive The psychological addictive influence may have blinded their

judgment carelessness claiming that they have no time which is not acceptable.

Discussion

More than 50% of active smokers smoke at the campus … May indicates :

No clear restrictions rules that prohibit smoking at the campus.

Discussion

Limitations: Only dealing with males may decrease generalizability

to all medical students ( males/Females )The questionnaire should include the family status of

smoking ( especially the father ) and social stability which likely to affect the prevalence of smoking among male medical student.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Research Question :

Is there a difference in smokers prevalence between Basic Years

( 1st ,2nd and 3rd ) and Clinical Years ( 4th , 5th and 6th ) ?

Answer :

Yes ... Clinical Years (40%) > Basic Years (21%)

Recommendations

Recommendations

Health education and health promotion are essential to stop this alarming statistics.

enforcement of prohibition of smoking inside the campus and enhancement of medical help for quitting

starting anti smoking campaigns. These efforts must be collaborative with public

education, health professionals, mass media and legislators’ participating.

Recommendations

Also, we recommend Further researches efforts to be done regarding:

The controlling of smoking among medical studentsThe role of mass media in spreading the awareness

of smoking risks The relationship between smoking rate and the

different social classes.

References

References

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