Medical Students’ Knowledge of Smoking and Cessation Interventions at King Abdulaziz University

Ahmed Aljohaney

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, P.O. Box 80215 Jeddah 21589

E-mail: drajohani@yahoo.com; Tel +96612602000 Ext 22319; Fax +966126408315

Accepted 02 December, 2014

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess medical students’ knowledge of smoking and cessation interventions as well as their preparedness to counsel patients. This was a cross-sectional survey conducted between October 2012 and May 2013 among sixth year medical students at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah. We administered a self-filled questionnaire that comprised 59 questions that assessed students’ characteristics and smoking status, their knowledge of smoking epidemiology, benefits of smoking cessation, smoking risks, and cessation interventions. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. We recruited 238 students; 22 (9%) were current smokers. Although most students reported being prepared to help their future patients quit, their knowledge of smoking epidemiology in Saudi Arabia was below average with mean score (SD) of 45.8 (16.3). Similarly, students had poor understanding of cessation interventions with mean score (SD) of 29.42 (17.94). Male and female students had a similar level of knowledge of the risks of smoking (p=0.409) and pregnancy related hazards (p=0.071), but females were more knowledgeable about the risks of second hand smoking (p=0.009). Smokers and former smokers were less knowledgeable than never smokers about smoking risks (p=0.015). Final year students at King Abdulaziz University have a poor knowledge of the health consequences of tobacco and the current available cessation methods, suggesting that they need further information on smoking and training in cessation techniques.

Keywords: Health knowledge; Medical students; Smoking; Tobacco; Cessation Interventions