Investigation of Smoking Prevalence and Related Factors Among Final Year Medical Students: The Case of Giresun University

Abstract Objectives: Tobacco use among medical students is common worldwide. It is estimated that one in every five students smoke. The aim of this study was to evaluate smoking prevalence and associated factors in final year medical students. Methods: The study included 100 students studying in their final year at Giresun University Faculty of Medicine. The students who participated in the study were questioned with two scales and one form: sociodemographic form, Decisional Balance Scale for Smoking (DBSS), Fagerstrom Nicotine Dependence Test (FNBT). Results: The mean age of the students was 24.3 ± 1.1 years (22-29 years). 54% of the participants were female and 46% were male. The rate of smoking in the living area was 56%. The prevalence of smoking in the family was 65%. The most common reasons for smoking were personal and family realtaed reasons (37.5%), curiosity (30%) and peer influence (22.5%). The FNDT scale showed that the level of addiction was low in 72.5%, moderate in 25% and high in 2.5% of the students. Total DBSS score was negative in 85% and positive in 15% of the smoking students. Conclusion: The prevalence of smoking among final year medical students is quite high. Students who are prone to smoking cessation according to the DBSS scale should be directed to smoking cessation treatments. The theoretical and clinical curriculum on smoking in medical school should be reviewed and implemented from the first years of medical school. Smoking rates can be reduced by increasing the number of smoking cessation outpatient clinics, easy access to counselling services and inclusion of students' close environment in the intervention process. Keywords: Tobacco use, Cigarette smoking, Medical students, Dependence of smoking