Tobacco use and related behaviors among staff and students in a university hospital: A large cross-sectional survey

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Smoking prevalence in the overall population in France was 27% in 2017. There are few data about smoking prevalence in hospital workers. The aim of this study was to assess prevalence of current smoking in student and staff populations at Lyon University Hospital. Secondary objectives were to identify main variables associated with current smoking and willingness to quit. METHODS We designed a single center, cross-sectional survey, using printed questionnaires. During one day, all registered staff and students were surveyed. We used optical reading to extract information from questionnaires. We performed univariate and multivariate analysis adjusted on most relevant factors. RESULTS We analyzed 9712 questionnaires. The participating rates were high: 40.6% in the student cohort and 51.5% in the staff cohort. The proportion of current cigarette users was 26% in students and 25% in staff. In multivariate analysis, current smoking was significantly associated with: younger age, male sex, occupation type (e.g. logistical staff, and paramedical students), overnight work, and e-cigarette use. Among smokers, 53% reported a willingness to quit. In multivariate analysis, number of quit attempts, and feeling symptoms from tobacco were associated with willingness to quit. CONCLUSIONS Current smoking is less frequent in our cohorts of hospital staff and students than in the general French population. However, there are deep disparities in current smoking prevalence underlining a heterogeneous population. Among smokers, the majority reported a willingness to quit and some predictive factors may help to target this audience.

Balancing Act: Exploring the Interplay Between Lifestyle Habits and Nutritional Status Among University Students. A Cross-Sectional Study

“…[41] concluded that there was a significant association between smoking and sex (being male) and undertaking a two-year programme but an insignificant relationship existed between smoking and undertaking a four-year programme, having friends and family smokers and alcohol intake and no significant association with the year of study. Similar studies concluded that young age and male gender were associated with smoking [37,40,43,45]. On the contrary, according to [42], factors associated with water-pipe smoking among medical students in Kenya were living in a rental house, having family members who were smokers and professing catholic faith.…”

“…The majority (90.8%) reported they never smoked while 9% of Oman university students reported they were active smokers respectively. Among French students in a university hospital, 26% were active tobacco smokers [37]. A study by [38] in New Zealand reported that 11.1% of university students aged between 18 and 24 were active smokers, while another study by [39] in England reported that 14% were smokers.…”