The Negative Impact of Tobacco Smoking on Health-Related Quality of Life among Saudi Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Mohammed Al Kalif,Amal Alghamdi,Ali Alnasser,Faisal Albagmi

doi:10.31557/apjcp.2021.22.12.4051

Abstract

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the impact of cigarette smoking and health-related quality of life among Saudi secondary vocational students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods:A convenience sample of 328 answered a web-based self-administered questionnaire based on the Youth Risky Behavior Monitoring System (YRBSS) plus the Short Form 12 (SF-12) were included in the study. The target population included all Saudi students enrolled at the Secondary Industrial Institute in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, during December 2020 and February 2021. Results:Out of the total of 328 male participants, representing a response rate of 38.59%, the highest percentage of respondents were in the first year (45.4%), the mean age of the participants was 17.73 years with a standard deviation (SD) of 1.85 years. The prevalence of current smokers, past smokers, and never smokers accounted for 30.2%, 21.3%, and 48.5%, respectively. First-year students reported relatively high levels of smoking prevalence and low physical scores of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The overall mean of HRQoL of current smokers, past smokers, and never smokers accounted for 58.60, 58.38, and 63.66, respectively. In addition, current smokers reported a relatively low physical score of HRQoL 55.73. Conclusion:This is the first report to explore the impact of smoking on HRQoL of Secondary Industrial Institute students in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicate that smoking has a negative impact on the quality of life of vocational students. Therefore, a health strategies plan may be developed to improve the quality of life for vocational students in Saudi Arabia.

Highlights

Smoking is causing around 8 million deaths annually and more than 1.2 million cases indirectly and 85% directly attributable to tobacco use (WHO, 2020)
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of cigarette smoking and health-related quality of life among Saudi secondary vocational students during the COVID-19 pandemic
Current smokers reported a relatively low physical score of healthrelated quality of life (HRQoL) 55.73. This is the first report to explore the impact of smoking on HRQoL of Secondary Industrial Institute students in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary

Introduction

Smoking is causing around 8 million deaths annually and more than 1.2 million cases indirectly and 85% directly attributable to tobacco use (WHO, 2020). In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of smoking among males and females aged 16 to 18 is estimated to be 55.6% and 31.4%, respectively (Al Ghobain et al, 2011). According to a systematic review, between 2007 and 2018, the prevalence of tobacco smoking among Saudi adolescents ranged from 2.4 % to 39.6 % (Alasqah et al, 2019). Previous research has revealed that smoking has a negative impact on HRQoL in adolescence (Dube et al, 2013; Hourani et al, 2017). In Saudi Arabia, cigarette Smoking and HRQoL among secondary vocational students relationships are inadequate investigations. The study aimed to determine the impact of cigarette smoking on HRQoL among Saudi secondary vocational students

Materials and Methods

Results

Discussion