Cigarette and waterpipe smoking associated knowledge and behaviour among medical students in Lebanon

East Mediterr Health J. 2013 Oct;19(10):861-8.

Abstract

As future physicians capable of controlling tobacco dependence in the population, medical students are considered a main target for tobacco control interventions. This cross-sectional study reported on the prevalence of tobacco use (cigarettes and waterpipes) and associated knowledge and behaviour among 6th-year medical students in 2009-2010 from 6 medical schools in Lebanon. The self-administered questionnaire based on the Global Health Professional Survey (GHPSS) core questions also enquired about training in tobacco cessation approaches. All enrolled students were asked to participate; the response rate was 191/354 (54.3%). The prevalence of tobacco use was 26.3% for cigarettes and 29.5% for waterpipes. Smoking waterpipes was the only significant predictor for cigarette smoking and there was no difference by sex and socioeconomic status. A minority reported ever receiving any formal training in treatment approaches for tobacco dependence. Medical schools should include tobacco dependence treatment training programmes in their curriculum and discourage tobacco use.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Lebanon / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Smoking / psychology
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Students, Medical / psychology
  • Students, Medical / statistics & numerical data*
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / epidemiology
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / therapy