WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Ola Mowafaq Mohammed, Maab Mohammed Hassan and Israa Tarik Salman

ABSTRACT

Background: Smoking is a major cause of preventable death worldwide, with a negative impact on health. Smoking among medical students is a significant health issue, as understanding their behaviors is vital for reducing future smoking-related disease burdens. Objective: To measure the frequency of smoking and assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical students at the College of Medicine, Baghdad University, regarding smoking. Subjects and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from January 15 to June 15, 2020, using online interviews with 300 students from different academic years. Results: Among the 300 participants, 72% were male and 28% female. Third-year students were the largest group (24%), and "good" academic achievement was the most common category (31%). Daily smoking prevalence was 26%, with peer influence being the primary cause (28.6%). Most smokers (61.9%) started smoking before age 19, and 59.3% smoked fewer than 11 cigarettes per day. The overall smoking prevalence was 46.7%. About 48% did not recognize smoking as a risk factor for bladder cancer, 70% were unaware of cessation programs, and 89% supported health education strategies. While 66.7% of smokers believed smoking relieved stress, only 47.9% considered quitting. Additionally, 57.1% did not read health warnings, and 71.4% shared cigarettes with friends, with 61.4% unwilling to stop smoking. Conclusions: Smoking prevalence among medical students was higher than previous studies. Friends' influence and stress relief were common reasons for smoking. While knowledge about smoking hazards was generally good, awareness of cessation programs was low. Attitudes toward smoking were positive, but dependence and reluctance to quit were significant issues.

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