Study of Smoking Habit Among Medical Students and other Students in Ain Shams University

Abstract

Tobacco smoking is the most important preventable cause of chronic ill health and premature death, no single disease is expected to make such a giant claim on health as this one risk factor. Tobacco consumption continues to increase worldwide. The epidemic is still expanding especially in less-developed countries. The present study was conducted on 960 smoker students(480 medical students and the same number of non-medical students)among to study the smoking habits among students of the faculty of medicine and other students in Ain Shams University and their trends to quit smoking, the selected students aged between 18-25 years and data were collected through performed questionnaire. This study shows the following results: There was no significant difference between medical and non-medical students as regard age, sex and marital status. Smoking prevalence in single students was higher than married andcigarette smoking was the highest when compared with shisha. As regard how acceptable is smoking for them, (58.8%) of non-medical students accepted smoking while (41%) of medical students showed acceptance. In medical students, getting rid of headache, increasing concentration and memory were the most affecting causes of smoking while in non-medical students, overcoming problems was the most prevalent cause followed by pushing effect of friends getting rid of headache and to get pleasure. (39%) of medical students believed that type of study increase smoking tendency, in non-medical students, (53.1%) believed that type of study increase smoking tendency. (80.2%) of medical students agree to smoking stoppage in smoking free places while only (44%) of non-medical students did not agree. (60.6%) of medical students believed that depression decreased smoking rate, while (70.8%) of non-medical students believed that depression increase the rate of smoking. Most of participants declared that happiness increase rate of smoking in both medical and non-medical students, (67.7% and 64.4%, respectively).