Attitude of medical students to regulatory measures related to tobacco smoking

Abstract

In some countries strict tobacco control measures successfully reduced the number of smokers. Although these measures do not have immediate effects, they may serve as investments in the future healthcare. Health care experts should take part actively in the decision making. Aims: To investigate medical students’ relation to smoking and their attitudes about tobacco control measures. Methods: Authors applied the Hungarian translation of the Global Health Professionals Student Survey. Medical students from the first and fifth year filled in the survey anonymously during the seminars. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS. Results: Altogether 245 students completed the questionnaire. It was found that the knowledge of students about health damages caused by tobacco smoking was very good. However, a large number of students are exposed to tobacco smoke (68% of them at home and 85% at public places). Their opinion about tobacco control measures reflects recent law, as only 43% of the students would support a smoking ban in bars and discotheques. Conclusions: Hungarian health care experts have to take part with more effort in the prevention of tobacco smoking. Medical students have to be trained in this field. Orv. Hetil., 2011, 152, 828–833.