Anxiolytic consumption is associated with tobacco smoking and severe nicotine dependence. Results from the national French medical students (BOURBON) study

Abstract

Tobacco smoking remains common among medical students, something which may impact on their abililty to promote smoking cessation during their future careers. ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of smoking and consumption among French medical students and explore the link between both the presence of psychosocial factors and consumption of psychotropic medication and the severity of nicotine dependence and daily smoking behavior. MethodsMedical students were recruited from 35 French universities of medicine through administration mailing lists and social networks, between December 13, 2016 and May 15, 2017. Data was collected via anonymized Internet questionnaire which included questions regarding current daily tobacco smoking behaviors. Severe nicotine dependence was defined by a short Fagerström test equal or >4. Results10,985 medical students with a mean aged of 21.8 years (+/−3.3) were included, 31.6% of which were male. 2078 (18.9%) were identified as current daily tobacco smokers and 59 (2.8%) were classed as having severe nicotine dependence. In multivariate analyses, tobacco smoking was independently associated with anxiolytic consumption, alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, financial difficulties, and history of sexual and physical assault. Severe nicotine dependence was independently associated with anxiolytic consumption, cannabis use disorder, domestic violence, physical assault and financial difficulties. ConclusionTobacco smoking has been found in almost one on 5 medical students and is associated with anxiolytic consumption as well as professional and personal factors.