Alshahrani Najim Z
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Tob Induc Dis. 2025 Sep 6;23. doi: 10.18332/tid/207914. eCollection 2025.
Tobacco smoking continues to pose a major global public health challenge. Medical students play a crucial role in shaping future smoking cessation practices. Nicotine pouches have recently emerged as a tobacco-free alternative with a potentially reduced harm profile. However, little is known about their use and perception among medical students in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to assess medical students' knowledge and perceptions of nicotine pouches and to examine usage patterns among those who consume these products.
A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and July 2024 among 295 medical students from three universities in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through a self-administered electronic questionnaire covering demographics, smoking history, knowledge, perceptions, and usage behaviors. Statistical analyses, including chi-squared tests and logistic regression, were used to identify factors associated with knowledge and usage.
Smoking prevalence among participants was 16.3%, with significantly higher rates among males. Overall, 58.6% of students demonstrated good knowledge of nicotine pouches. Higher knowledge scores were associated with male gender, senior academic year, and higher grade point average (GPA). Among users, 62.9% reported quitting smoking, and more than half noted health improvements. The 10 mg nicotine strength was the most commonly used. Social influence, particularly peer pressure, was the primary reason for use. Despite noting harm reduction potential, students expressed concern about nicotine dependence and the need for stronger regulation.
Saudi medical students show moderate knowledge of nicotine pouches, influenced by academic and demographic factors. However, concerns about dependence and regulation highlight the need for targeted education and policy development. Integrating this topic into medical curricula may better prepare future physicians to address nicotine use in clinical practice.
吸烟仍然是一项重大的全球公共卫生挑战。医学生在塑造未来的戒烟实践中发挥着关键作用。尼古丁袋最近作为一种无烟替代品出现，其潜在危害可能较小。然而，对于沙特阿拉伯医学生对其的使用和看法知之甚少。本研究旨在评估医学生对尼古丁袋的知识和看法，并调查使用这些产品的学生的使用模式。
2024年4月至7月，对沙特阿拉伯三所大学的295名医学生进行了一项横断面研究。通过一份自我管理的电子问卷收集数据，内容涵盖人口统计学、吸烟史、知识、看法和使用行为。采用包括卡方检验和逻辑回归在内的统计分析方法来确定与知识和使用相关的因素。
参与者中的吸烟率为16.3%，男性的吸烟率显著更高。总体而言，58.6%的学生对尼古丁袋有良好的了解。较高的知识得分与男性、高年级和较高的平均绩点（GPA）相关。在使用者中，62.9%的人报告已戒烟，超过一半的人指出健康状况有所改善。10毫克尼古丁强度是最常用的。社会影响，尤其是同伴压力，是使用的主要原因。尽管注意到了降低危害的潜力，但学生们对尼古丁依赖和更强有力监管的必要性表示担忧。
沙特医学生对尼古丁袋有一定的了解，受学术和人口统计学因素影响。然而，对依赖和监管的担忧凸显了针对性教育和政策制定的必要性。将这一主题纳入医学课程可能会更好地让未来的医生在临床实践中应对尼古丁使用问题。
