Smoking rates among students of medicine at a university institute in Buenos Aires: cross section-study

Abstract

Introduction: Argentina has a smoking rate among adults of 22.1%; previous research has shown medical students smoke at the same rate than the general population. Physicians’ smoking status affects their ability to provide anti-smoking advice. Methods: Observational cross-sectional study. In 2011 a survey was administered to medical students at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires School of Medicine asking about demographic and tobacco use characteristics, and knowledge and attitudes toward smoking. Results: 217 students were interviewed (response rate: 97.7%). Of these, 58.1% were in the school’s initial years, and 41.9% in the latest ones; 63 (29%) were current smokers. Current smokers were less likely to agree with a smoking ban in enclosed spaces such as restaurants, bars and schools (88.9% vs 97.4%, P=0.034); 68.7% of respondents referred having received training on smoking cessation (98.9% among advanced students). However, 41.5% did not acknowledge the utility of nicotinic replacement therapy for smoking cessation, and only 11.1%  knew about anti-smoking brief interventions. 60.4% wanted to receive more information about smoking. Conclusion: Medical students at the Hospital Italiano smoke at the same rate than the general population. Although most have received some information on cessation strategies, it is insufficient.