ABSTRACT

Background: Tobacco use is one of the most important risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Health professionals such as medical students are vital agents of change in the fight against tobacco. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of tobacco use and determine its associated factors among medical undergraduate students in a medical college in Riyadh city. Methods: A college-based study was conducted in a medical university in Riyadh city using a convenient sampling method to achieve the required sample size of 215. A semi-structured pretested questionnaire was used to collect data on tobacco use by the participants, their parents and siblings, and other socio-demographic details. Ethical clearance was taken from institute ethics committee. Result: Majority of the students were 20-21 years old, belonged to middle-income families and had well-educated parents. The prevalence of current tobacco use was 22.8% and among them 98% were current smokers. Siblings’ smoking status was significantly associated with tobacco use. Conclusion: Tobacco cessation counseling and tobacco use prevention activities should be incorporated in the medical curriculum. Keywords: prevalence, tobacco, smoking, college students, medical students, Riyadh

https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2019/March/MS_IJBPAS_2019_4662.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2019/8.3.4662