Future physicians and tobacco: an online survey of the habits, beliefs and knowledge base of medical students at a Canadian University
Background Little is known about the knowledge and attitudes towards tobacco use among medical students in Canada. Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of tobacco use among medical students, assess their perceived level of education about tobacco addiction management and their preparedness...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
European Publishing
2013-04-01
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| Series: | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Future-physicians-and-tobacco-an-online-survey-of-the-habits-beliefs-and-knowledge-base-of-medical-students-at-a-Canadian-University,66566,0,2.html |
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| author | Amanda J Vanderhoek Fadi Hammal Alyssa Chappell T Cameron Wild Tobias Raupach Barry A. Finegan |
| author_facet | Amanda J Vanderhoek Fadi Hammal Alyssa Chappell T Cameron Wild Tobias Raupach Barry A. Finegan |
| author_sort | Amanda J Vanderhoek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background
Little is known about the knowledge and attitudes towards tobacco use among medical students in Canada. Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of tobacco use among medical students, assess their perceived level of education about tobacco addiction management and their preparedness to address tobacco use with their future patients.
Methods
A cross-sectional online survey was administered to University of Alberta undergraduate medical school trainees. The 32-question survey addressed student demographics, tobacco use, knowledge and attitudes around tobacco and waterpipe smoking, tobacco education received in medical school, as well as knowledge and competency regarding tobacco cessation interventions.
Results
Of 681 polled students, 301 completed the survey. Current (defined as “use within the last 30 days”) cigarette, cigar/cigarillo and waterpipe smoking prevalence was 3.3%, 6% and 6%, respectively. One third of the respondents had ever smoked a cigarette, but 41% had tried cigars/cigarillos and 40% had smoked a waterpipe at some time in the past. Students reported moderate levels of education on a variety of tobacco-related subjects but were well-informed on the role of tobacco in disease causation. The majority of students in their final two years of training felt competent to provide tobacco cessation interventions, but only 10% definitively agreed that they had received enough training in this area.
Conclusions
Waterpipe exposure/current use was surprisingly high among this sample of medical students, a population well educated about the role of tobacco in disease causation. The majority of respondents appeared to be adequately prepared to manage tobacco addiction but education could be improved, particularly training in behavioral modification techniques used in tobacco use cessation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:51:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7970ca15d06d46f69fba156965c70695 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1617-9625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:51:01Z |
| publishDate | 2013-04-01 |
| publisher | European Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-7970ca15d06d46f69fba156965c706952022-12-21T23:34:56ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252013-04-0111April10.1186/1617-9625-11-966566Future physicians and tobacco: an online survey of the habits, beliefs and knowledge base of medical students at a Canadian UniversityAmanda J Vanderhoek0Fadi Hammal1Alyssa Chappell2T Cameron Wild3Tobias Raupach4Barry A. Finegan5Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, CanadaDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, CanadaDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, CanadaSchool of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, CanadaDepartment of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Hospital Göttingen, Göttingen, GermanyDepartment of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, CanadaBackground Little is known about the knowledge and attitudes towards tobacco use among medical students in Canada. Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of tobacco use among medical students, assess their perceived level of education about tobacco addiction management and their preparedness to address tobacco use with their future patients. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was administered to University of Alberta undergraduate medical school trainees. The 32-question survey addressed student demographics, tobacco use, knowledge and attitudes around tobacco and waterpipe smoking, tobacco education received in medical school, as well as knowledge and competency regarding tobacco cessation interventions. Results Of 681 polled students, 301 completed the survey. Current (defined as “use within the last 30 days”) cigarette, cigar/cigarillo and waterpipe smoking prevalence was 3.3%, 6% and 6%, respectively. One third of the respondents had ever smoked a cigarette, but 41% had tried cigars/cigarillos and 40% had smoked a waterpipe at some time in the past. Students reported moderate levels of education on a variety of tobacco-related subjects but were well-informed on the role of tobacco in disease causation. The majority of students in their final two years of training felt competent to provide tobacco cessation interventions, but only 10% definitively agreed that they had received enough training in this area. Conclusions Waterpipe exposure/current use was surprisingly high among this sample of medical students, a population well educated about the role of tobacco in disease causation. The majority of respondents appeared to be adequately prepared to manage tobacco addiction but education could be improved, particularly training in behavioral modification techniques used in tobacco use cessation.http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Future-physicians-and-tobacco-an-online-survey-of-the-habits-beliefs-and-knowledge-base-of-medical-students-at-a-Canadian-University,66566,0,2.htmlmedical educationtobacco cessationwaterpipemedical students |
| spellingShingle | Amanda J Vanderhoek Fadi Hammal Alyssa Chappell T Cameron Wild Tobias Raupach Barry A. Finegan Future physicians and tobacco: an online survey of the habits, beliefs and knowledge base of medical students at a Canadian University Tobacco Induced Diseases medical education tobacco cessation waterpipe medical students |
| title | Future physicians and tobacco: an online survey of the habits, beliefs and knowledge base of medical students at a Canadian University |
| title_full | Future physicians and tobacco: an online survey of the habits, beliefs and knowledge base of medical students at a Canadian University |
| title_fullStr | Future physicians and tobacco: an online survey of the habits, beliefs and knowledge base of medical students at a Canadian University |
| title_full_unstemmed | Future physicians and tobacco: an online survey of the habits, beliefs and knowledge base of medical students at a Canadian University |
| title_short | Future physicians and tobacco: an online survey of the habits, beliefs and knowledge base of medical students at a Canadian University |
| title_sort | future physicians and tobacco an online survey of the habits beliefs and knowledge base of medical students at a canadian university |
| topic | medical education tobacco cessation waterpipe medical students |
| url | http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Future-physicians-and-tobacco-an-online-survey-of-the-habits-beliefs-and-knowledge-base-of-medical-students-at-a-Canadian-University,66566,0,2.html |
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