Satpathy Nancy, Pradhan Himanshu S, Sarangi Swapna, Epari Venkatarao, Jena Pratap K, Dash Samarendra, Mohanty Debi P, Mishra Pratisha
Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan, Bhubaneswar, IND.
Non-communicable Division III, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, IND.
Cureus. 2024 Apr 19;16(4):e58617. doi: 10.7759/cureus.58617. eCollection 2024 Apr.
Background Tobacco use remains a significant global public health concern, causing millions of preventable and premature deaths annually and imposing substantial economic burdens. India, the second-largest producer and consumer of tobacco products worldwide, bears a significant burden of tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. Medical and dental students represent the future healthcare workforce and role models; hence, their tobacco consumption and attitude would play a vital role in tobacco control. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding tobacco use among medical and dental students in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using the Global Health Professional Students Survey (GHPSS) questionnaire. The study included third-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students from two private medical and two dental colleges in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Data were collected from February to April 2019 through anonymous self-administered questionnaires, and descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed. Results A total of 400 students were surveyed, with 16% reporting being current smokers (24.3% males, 8.7% females). Furthermore, 36.8% had tried cigarettes and other tobacco products. Nonsmokers demonstrated stronger support for comprehensive tobacco control policies, such as banning advertising and smoking in public places, compared to current smokers. Most students acknowledged the importance of recording tobacco use history and providing educational materials; however, only around 40% had received formal training on smoking cessation. Conclusion The findings highlight the need for targeted intervention among medical and dental students for tobacco cessation. It is vital to foster a positive attitude toward tobacco control among future healthcare professionals. Health professional institutions should take proactive steps to prevent tobacco use among students and develop initiatives to motivate successful cessation training. Investing in tobacco control education for healthcare professionals is crucial to empower them in tobacco cessation efforts and promote healthier societies.
烟草使用仍然是一个重大的全球公共卫生问题，每年导致数百万可预防的过早死亡，并带来巨大的经济负担。印度是全球第二大烟草产品生产国和消费国，承受着与烟草相关的发病率和死亡率的巨大负担。医学和牙科学生代表着未来的医疗保健劳动力和榜样；因此，他们的烟草消费和态度在烟草控制中起着至关重要的作用。本研究旨在估计奥里萨邦布巴内斯瓦尔市医学和牙科学生中烟草使用的流行率，并评估他们对烟草使用的知识、态度和行为。
使用全球卫生专业学生调查（GHPSS）问卷进行描述性横断面研究。该研究纳入了来自奥里萨邦布巴内斯瓦尔市两所私立医学院和两所牙科学院的三年级医学学士和外科学士（MBBS）以及牙科学士（BDS）学生。2019年2月至4月通过匿名自填问卷收集数据，并进行描述性和双变量分析。
共对400名学生进行了调查，16%的学生报告为当前吸烟者（男性为24.3%，女性为8.7%）。此外，36.8%的学生曾尝试过香烟和其他烟草产品。与当前吸烟者相比，非吸烟者对全面烟草控制政策（如禁止广告和在公共场所吸烟）表现出更强的支持。大多数学生认识到记录烟草使用史和提供教育材料的重要性；然而，只有约40%的学生接受过戒烟方面的正规培训。
研究结果强调了对医学和牙科学生进行有针对性的戒烟干预的必要性。在未来的医疗保健专业人员中培养对烟草控制的积极态度至关重要。卫生专业机构应采取积极措施预防学生使用烟草，并制定激励成功戒烟培训的举措。对医疗保健专业人员进行烟草控制教育投资对于使他们能够开展戒烟工作并促进更健康的社会至关重要。
