Smoking and attitudes towards its cessation among native and international dental students in Lithuania

Association between loneliness and cigarette smoking attitudes among university students in Iran: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

During the last two decades, cigarette smoking witnessed a global increase in use, especially among youth. Loneliness is one of the possible psychosocial determinants of smoking. This study examined the association between loneliness and attitudes towards cigarette smoking among university students of Iran.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This study was conducted among 538 university students, who were recruited using the cluster random sampling method. Loneliness and smoking attitudes of the samples were assessed using the revised version of the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale and the Scale of Cigarette Smoking Attitude (CSA). Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient and multivariable regression analysis were used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

From a total of 538 participants, 301 (59.9%) students were young women. The mean age of the students was 22.2±2.9 years. Only 56 (10.4%) of the students were married and 370 (87.9%) of them were lived with their families. 131 (24.3%) students experienced cigarette smoking. In terms of university-related characteristics, 205 (38.1%) of the students studied in the faculty of medicine. Also, 30% of the students had a positive or indifferent attitude towards smoking, while 26.4% of the students reported feeling lonely. The mean scores for loneliness and CSA were 41.42±11.29 and 48.64±11.2, respectively. Statistically, a significant positive correlation was found between loneliness and CSA (r=0.289; p<0.001). After controlling for potential confounders by regression analysis, loneliness scores were also positively associated with CSA scores (B: 0.14; 95% CI 0.097 to 0.18).

CONCLUSIONS

According to the positive association between loneliness and students' CSA, paying more attention to the state of loneliness in college students, examining situations and reasons that increase it and identifying the interventions that might reduce it are necessary. Reducing loneliness among college students can correct their attitudes towards smoking.

Global Status of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Tobacco Cessation Interventions Among Dental Professionals: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

With the emergence of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, globally the use of tobacco has decreased notably, although, it still requires efforts at individual, organizational, community level to decrease the rate further. Dental professionals are at an excellent position to provide tobacco cessation counselling and interventions, however, it is not practiced much due to lack of training and lack of knowledge. Therefore, this systematic review was conducted to assess the global status of knowledge, attitude and practice on tobacco cessation interventions among dental professionals.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

A systematic search of 6 databases with no language restriction since 2000 was undertaken. Studies were included if they assessed knowledge, attitude and practice on tobacco cessation interventions among dental professionals using a validated or prevalidated tool. The data obtained for assessment of knowledge, attitude, practice, curriculum and barriers were represented through heatmaps. Quality assessment of the studies was done using Newcastle Ottawa scale.

RESULTS

Fifty six studies were included in this systematic review. Majority of the studies were found to be of moderate quality. Knowledge regarding the tobacco cessation interventions was more theoretical than practical. All the studies showed a favorable attitude among dental professionals towards tobacco cessation intervention.

CONCLUSION

The included studies lack homogeneity in assessing knowledge, attitude and practice on tobacco cessation interventions. The development and validation of a standardized questionnaire to assess knowledge, attitude and practice on tobacco cessation interventions could be a potentially effective way to uniformly gather data on the subject.

The association between cigarette smoking attitudes and social capital among Iranian health and medical students: a cross-sectional study

Background

Smoking remains a leading public health challenge globally. As a psychosocial determinant of health, social capital can influence health attitudes and behaviors, and thus it may have the capacity to reduce smoking rates. The aim of this research was to examine the association between social capital and attitudes towards smoking among university students.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 538 health and medical students, recruited using the proportionate sampling method. Participants’ social capital and attitudes toward smoking were assessed using the social capital questionnaire (SCQ) and the scale of cigarette smoking attitude (CSA). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and the multiple regression analysis.

Results

About one in four health and medical students reported smoking, either currently or in the past, and 30% had either positive or indifferent attitudes towards smoking. The mean scores of the SCQ and the CSA were 105.1 ± 19.7 and 48.6 ± 11.2, respectively. There was a statistically significant negative association between the SCQ and the CSA scores (r = − 0.24; p < 0.001). In the regression analysis, the SCQ scores were also negatively and statistically significantly associated with the CSA scores, after controlling potential confounders (B: -0.09; 95% CI: − 0.13 to − 0.004).

Conclusions

As future healthcare providers, who are expected to take the primary role in reducing smoking rates in the community, health and medical students should be supported to develop appropriate attitudes towards smoking. Promoting positive social capital among university students has the capacity to improve their attitudes towards smoking. Possessing negative attitudes towards smoking should hopefully reduce smoking behaviors among future health professionals and improve their participation in anti-smoking campaigns.