Evaluation of smoking status and smoking cessation behaviours of the students in Adnan Menderes Universty

ABSTRACTEVALUATION OF SMOKING STATUS AND SMOKING CESSATIONBEHAVIOURS OF THE STUDENTS IN ADNAN MENDERES UNIVERSTYQuestionnaires were given to 849 students attending to Faculty of Education, Facultyof Science and Literature, Faculty of Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, Agricultural Faculty,School of Health Sciences, and School of Occupation in Adnan Menderes University. In thesurvey, students? smoking habits and related behaviours, their level of knowledge aboutdiseases related to tobacco consumption, the phase of their behavioural change, theirrelationship with doctors about cessation of smoking and their thoughts and behaviours aboutcessation of smoking were evaluated. The prevalence of smoking among students was 29.9%(n=254). Prevalence of smoking was significantly higher in female students (males: 39.1%,females: 19.7%). Of students, 77.5% were 18 years old or younger, while 25% startedsmoking before 15. The most important factors for beginning to smoke were environmentalfactors, curiosity and peer effect. Agricultural faculty had the highest smoking prevalence(41.2%) and school of health sciences had the lowest (14%). During patient-doctor encounterswith any reason, doctors offered support to only 8.8% of students. 73.1% stated that theycould quit smoking if any proposal of help was made by a doctor. Of the students smokingregularly of irregularly (254 students), 41.7% (n=106) were in pre-contemplation phase ofbehavioural change cycle, with 28.3% (n=72) in contemplation phase, 29.9% (n=76) inpreparation phase. An intervention of giving brochures was made to the students in pre-contemplation phase and an assessment was done 4-6 weeks later, but the results revealed nostatistical significance. As a result, prevalence of smoking among university students is high.Intervention with brochures about smoking and it?s hazards was not effective in respect toobtaining higher intention for cessation. But intention of students for cessation of smoking ispromising and cautions for tobacco addiction should be applied. More effort should be spendon this subject by authorities of universities and doctors and all educational curricula in theuniversities should include in the courses of health and healthy life.