Evaluation of the opinions about the benefits and negative effects of smoking in university students

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the opinions about the benefits and negative effects of smoking in university students who will be physiotherapists in the future. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-eight volunteer students, studying at the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Division, were enrolled in the study. Socio-demographic characteristics of the students, their characteristics regarding tobacco use, and the points of view about smoking were evaluated by face-to-face interview method with the evaluation form prepared by the researchers. The students’ beliefs about the benefits of smoking (8 questions) and the negative effects (14 questions) were evaluated. Results: The mean age and body mass index of the participants were 21.09 ± 2.12 years and 21.76 ± 2.57 kg/m2, respectively. Thirty-nine students are smokers and the duration of smoking was 2,63 ± 1,89 years. The opinion about the benefits of smoking for non-smokers was: “Psychological comfort” (13.1%); in smokers were: “Gives joy” (66.7%). The opinion about the negative effects of smoking are respectively in non-smokers and smokers; “Respiratory tract diseases” (91% - 87.2%). Conclusion: Smoker and non-smoker students generally consider the belief that smoking provides happiness and psychological comfort as a beneficial effect. At the same time, the majority of students are aware that smoking increases the risk of contract various diseases. We believe that there is a need to break the belief that smoking has some benefits. Keywords: benefits of smoking, negative effects of smoking, opinion