Smoking habits, knowledge, and attitudes of final year university students in the health professions

Abstract

A questionnaire survey was undertaken to determine the smoking habits of final year university students in the health professions, their knowledge about the health consequences of smoking, and their attitudes toward smoking control measures and specific professional roles. Students of medicine, nursing, dentistry, physical and occupational therapy, pharmacy, and physical and health education were studied. Students of arts and science, and applied science and engineering served as controls. Smoking was uncommon in all groups, the great majority of students never having smoked. Although knowledge about the relationship of smoking to specific diseases varied according to both the disease and the discipline, substantial proportions of all groups failed to appreciate the significance of this health hazard. Strong support for smoking control measures was lacking, as was a clear commitment to specific professional roles. These findings have implications for those involved in the education of students in the health professions.