Exploring smoking, vaping, and alcohol behaviours of Bond University allied health and medical students

Aim:<br/>To examine health behaviours of smoking, e-cigarette use and alcohol consumption among Bond University allied health and medical students in their first semesters.<br/><br/>Design:<br/>Cross-sectional study.<br/><br/>Methods:<br/>201 first semester allied health and medical students at Bond University completed the Bond Online Survey for Student Health and Wellbeing Tracking (May 2024).<br/><br/>Results:<br/>of the 201 students surveyed, 92.0% of medicine and 91.6% of allied health students had never smoked, and 92.1% of medicine and 91.6% of allied health students had never used e-cigarettes. A total of 81.5% of students reported drinking alcohol, with most consuming less than once per month (26.1%). Among allied health and medical students, 21.0% and 26.5% (respectively) drank five or more standard alcoholic drinks when they consumed alcohol. No significant difference was found in total weekly alcohol consumption between the groups.<br/><br/>Conclusion:<br/>Most allied health, and medical students abstain from smoking and e-cigarette use. However, many engage in risky alcohol consumption. Students enrolled in allied health and medical programs may face increased levels of stress due to demands of coursework and clinical practice, potentially influencing their engagement in these high-risk health behaviours.<br/><br/>Key practice points:<br/>• Development of supportive educational programs that emphasise risks and provide strategies for healthier habits is important.<br/>• Integration of stress-reduction programs tailored to the unique challenges of allied health and medical students should be considered. This emphasises the need for targeted interventions to address stress and risky behaviours while promoting healthy lifestyles and behaviours