Abstract

In this cross-sectional study; to determine smoking prevalence in the students of Düzce Medical School and to learn attitudes of students towards smoking was aimed and questionnaires applied under supervision to 230 students (96.0%) who accepted to participated to the study of all 242 students of the Medical School in the term of 2005-2006. The prevalence of smoking was found 31.3%. Smoking prevalence was significantly higher in the students who have smokers among their friends, the students who had been graduated from Science High School, the students who deal with an art such as painting, music, theatre and the students who have lived alone. Almost all the students declined that they had supported the legal regulations and sanctions against smoking and 43.0 % of the students thought that to persuade community not to smoke has been the mission of doctors. The reasons to begin to smoke were declined as; the affects of friends, (54.4%), affectation (28.0%), curiosity (28.8%) and being alone (20.6%). Of the students who have been smoking currently 42 students (65.6%) have wanted to quit smoking, 20 (31.3%) haven’t want to quit and 2 (%3.1) has been undecided. Of smokers, 47 students (74.6%) had been tried to quit smoking. The students of Medical School have known that smoking was harmful to health. Because friends’ affects are important to begin smoking; campaigns to quit smoking has to be planned towards friend groups not to individuals. Considering that behaviors of physicians have effected to community physicians have to be ensured to quit smoking and not to begin smoking with campaigns against smoking. It’s important to support students who want to quit smoking.

Key words: Smoking, medical students, attitudes towards smoking

Article Language: Turkish English