1
|
Alnasser AHA, Al-Tawfiq JA, Kheimi RMA, Alibrahim RMS, Albanawi NAH, Almeshal AKA, Alsomali HMH, Al Kalif MSH, Al Sayed Ahmed HH, Khamees SHA, Al-Thubiani WSS, Alqurashi DSM, Alrashed AAA, Alburaih JAH, Alnasser AAH. Gender Differences in Smoking Attitude among Saudi Medical Students. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2022; 23:2089-2093. [PMID: 35763652 PMCID: PMC9587824 DOI: 10.31557/apjcp.2022.23.6.2089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: Smoking is a growing public health problem throughout the world. However, the attitude of males and females toward smoking may differ. Therefore, this study examines gender differences in smoking behavior and attitude among Saudi medical students. Methods: From January 2020 to August 2020, a snowball cross-sectional online survey was conducted in five major regions of Saudi Arabia. Medical students (18 years or older) were invited to respond to the questionnaire. Results: Out of the 421 respondents, 255 (60.6%) were female, 243 (57.7%) were between 18 and-24-year-old, and 164 (39%) were from the Eastern Province. The overall prevalence of smoking was 25.4% and was higher among males than females [(44% and 13.3%, respectively), P < 0.001]. However, there was no significant difference in the mean score of the overall attitude towards smoking between males and females [(3.02±0.44 and 3.00±0.34), respectively, P=0.64]. However, more female students believed e-cigarettes were harmful to health than male students [(4.19±1.04 and 4.45±0.9), respectively, P=0.002]. Conclusion: The study showed that male students smoke more than female students, and there were no significant differences in the overall attitudes score towards smoking. Therefore, campaigns are needed to decrease smoking rate, especially among male students.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Hassan A Alnasser
- Department of Laboratory, Dhahran Eye Specialist Hospital, Ministry of Health, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq
- Infectious Disease Unit, Specialty Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Narjes Abdullah H Albanawi
- Department of Family Medicine, Abqaiq Primary Health Care Centers, Abqaiq General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Mohammed Sheker H Al Kalif
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.,Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Sukainah Hussain A Khamees
- Department of Family Medicine, Safwa Primary Health Care, Eastern Health Cluster, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wafa Safar S Al-Thubiani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dalal Siadi M Alqurashi
- Department of Family Medicine, Al-Mansour Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Ali A Alrashed
- Alqudaih Health Center, Primary Health Care Centers in Qatif, Ministry of Health, Qatif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jasem Ahmad H Alburaih
- Dental Department, Aljaffer Primary Health Center, Primary Health Centers in Eastern Sector, Alahsa Health Cluster, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aqeela Ali H Alnasser
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|