Smoking cessation attempts and associated factors with success – Medical students sample

Abstract

Backround: Tobacco addiction is an important public health problem and has high mortality and morbidity. In this study, we aimed to identify smoking history, cessation attempts, factors associated with successful and failed cessation attempts among medical students. Materials and Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional study. There was 965 students in Adnan Menderes University Medical School in 2014-2015 and 869 (%90) of them were included in the study. A questionnaire was applied to students including questions about smoking history, cessation attempts, factors associated with successful and failed cessation attempts. Data was analyzed statistically. Results: A total of 225 (%26) students were using tobacco products among 869 students. Mean age for first experience and regular smoking were 16 and 18 years of age respectively. The most common reasons for first smoking experience were curiosity, pleasure and relaxing effect of tobacco, stressful and problematic situations in life. Exam periods and emotional stress were increasing tobacco use whereas vacation periods and home environment decrease. The most common reason for smoking cessation motivation was its harmful effect on health. Being a medical student was among the rarely reported reasons. The most common reasons for successful smoking cessation were self-determination and support from friends whereas the most common reasons for failed smoking cessation attempts were craving for tobacco and difficulty in studying during exam periods. We understand that nicotinic deprivation symptoms are quite common and spending time with hobbies and eating are the most commonly reported coping behaviors. Conclusion: More than half of the students were reported that physicians did not ask about their smoking history. The ratio of family physicians was quite low (%18) among physicians who asked about smoking history of students.The physicians should interrogate smoking every visit and the medical students should be allowed to leave smoking early.