Smoking among the students of Hue Medical University: Current situation and related factors

ABSTRACT

Background: Smoking is a well-known cause of many diseases. The rate of smoking in Vietnam was 38.8%. Smoking among medical students is also common, although they have to set an example for ordinary people. Objectives: To describe the smoking situation among the students of Hue Medical University (HMU) and determine some of the factors relating to their smoking behaviour. Subjects and method: A cross-sectional study was carried out from January to October 2004 on 1470 medical students of HMU in the academic year 2003-2004, using a questionnaire of the Institute of Global Tobaco Control on tobaco use among youth. Results: Overall smoking rate was quite high (35%), predominantly in men (58.4% in men vs. 13.4% in women). The mean age of first use was nearly 19 years old. The trend and extent of smoking increased with age groups and academic years. Older students tended to display a higher intension rate of quitting cigarette. The 5 factors related to smoking behaviours were as followed: knowledge of socioeconomic hazards of smoking; attitudes when a cigarette offered by close friends; attitudes when exposed to a smoking person; having close relatives smoking; and having close friends smoking. Conclusion: Smoking among Hue medical students was prevalent. It is necessary to have early interventional impacts on the environment around them through their friends and relatives, and to encourage the positive attitude of medical students in the cigarette prevention and control. It is also needed to conduct a longitudinal study to assess the trend of smoking and quitting over the time of these students.