Prem Kumar Mony1, Priya John, Sylvia Jayakumar. 1. St John's Research Institute, St John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Koramangala, Bangalore 560034, India. prem_mony@sjri.res.in
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Unless effective tobacco control is in place, most tobacco-related deaths in the coming decades are likely to be seen in low- and middle-income countries. Tobacco surveillance among medical students offers an opportunity to assess the preparedness for tobacco control among future healthcare professionals in India. METHODS: We did a cross-sectional survey in two cities (Bangalore and Coimbatore) of India. The participants were third year undergraduate students from 7 medical colleges and 6 nursing colleges. A self-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on tobacco use, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, knowledge on disease burden and attitudes towards tobacco control. RESULTS: Overall, 829 of 985 eligible students (84.1%) participated in the survey. About 14.5% (95% CI 12.0-17.0) of students had ever used tobacco. Current tobacco use was reported by 1.6% (95% CI 0.8-2.4) of students; 1.5% (95% CL 0.7-2.3) were current smokers and 0.4% (95% CI 0.1-0.7) were current chewers. The rates of smoking among male medical, female medical and female nursing students were 4.0%, 0.3% and 0%, respectively (p < 0.001). About 1 in 6 students reported frequent exposure to environmental tobacco smoke within their homes and over 1 in 4 reported frequent exposure outside the home environment. Median knowledge score on tobacco-related burden was 5/10. More than 80% favoured ban on tobacco sales to adolescents, tobacco advertising and tobacco use in public places. Over 90% reported interest in further training in tobacco control. CONCLUSION: This scenario of comparatively low levels of tobacco use, positive attitudes towards tobacco control and suboptimal levels of knowledge coupled with a high interest in having further knowledge on tobacco control points to the need for a comprehensive curriculum for training in tobacco control that meets national requirements.
BACKGROUND: Unless effective tobacco control is in place, most tobacco-related deaths in the coming decades are likely to be seen in low- and middle-income countries. Tobacco surveillance among medical students offers an opportunity to assess the preparedness for tobacco control among future healthcare professionals in India. METHODS: We did a cross-sectional survey in two cities (Bangalore and Coimbatore) of India. The participants were third year undergraduate students from 7 medical colleges and 6 nursing colleges. A self-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on tobacco use, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, knowledge on disease burden and attitudes towards tobacco control. RESULTS: Overall, 829 of 985 eligible students (84.1%) participated in the survey. About 14.5% (95% CI 12.0-17.0) of students had ever used tobacco. Current tobacco use was reported by 1.6% (95% CI 0.8-2.4) of students; 1.5% (95% CL 0.7-2.3) were current smokers and 0.4% (95% CI 0.1-0.7) were current chewers. The rates of smoking among male medical, female medical and female nursing students were 4.0%, 0.3% and 0%, respectively (p < 0.001). About 1 in 6 students reported frequent exposure to environmental tobacco smoke within their homes and over 1 in 4 reported frequent exposure outside the home environment. Median knowledge score on tobacco-related burden was 5/10. More than 80% favoured ban on tobacco sales to adolescents, tobacco advertising and tobacco use in public places. Over 90% reported interest in further training in tobacco control. CONCLUSION: This scenario of comparatively low levels of tobacco use, positive attitudes towards tobacco control and suboptimal levels of knowledge coupled with a high interest in having further knowledge on tobacco control points to the need for a comprehensive curriculum for training in tobacco control that meets national requirements.