Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Smoking among Pharmacy Students: Findings from a Public University
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research - Year 2018, Vol 12, Issue 12
Abstract
ABSTRACT Introduction: Smoking causes substantial preventable morbidity, mortality and financial burdens. It is the main risk factor for many diseases and a significant cause of death. Smoking prevalence is high internationally and in Malaysia, especially among males. Smoking cessation is essential to reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. Aim: To evaluate knowledge, attitude towards and practice of smoking among pharmacy students in the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated structured self-administered questionnaire among a sample of IIUM pharmacy students (n=251) from November 2012 to December 2012. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarise data and to examine the relationship between variables. Results: A total of 251 IIUM pharmacy students have participated in the survey. The median age of the participants was 21-23 years; 23.9% of them were males and 76.1% were females. The percentage of current smokers and ex-smokers was 0.4%, 0.8%, respectively. About 43% of the respondents had a good knowledge (score >16), more than half of them had a positive attitude (score >17), and about 38.4% had a good practice (score >11). Conclusion: Smoking prevalence among pharmacy students in IIUM is very low. However, conducting training and educational programs to improve knowledge, attitudes and practice of pharmacy students is highly recommended to assist their contribution to smoking cessation interventions in the future.
Authors and Affiliations
Abdulkareem Mohammed Al-shami, Tarek Mohamed Elsayed, Ramadan Mohamed Elkalmi, Shazia Qasim Jamshed, Eman Ali Dyab, Mohammad Jamshed Siddiqui, Abdul Rahman Mahmoud Fata Nahas
Comparative Assessment of the Antibacterial Efficacy of Natural Products and Chlorhexidine Mouthwash against Streptococcus Mutans: A Systematic Review
ABSTRACT Introduction: Dental caries is still an existing challenge worldwide and continues to be the most prevalent of all oral infectious diseases. Mutans streptococci have been identified as the causative organism for...
Histochemical Study of Inflammatory Lesions of Gall Bladder with Reference to Metaplastic Conditions
ABSTRACT Introduction: Cholelithiasis and asymptomatic gallstones may produce pathological changes like hyperplasia and metaplasia of the gall bladder mucosal epithelium. It has been suggested that metaplastic epitheliu...
Distribution of SCCmec Elements and Presence of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis Isolated from Clinical Samples in a University Hospital of Isfahan City, Iran
Introduction: Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) is considered as a major pathogen of nosocomial infections among immunosuppressed patients. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the types of Staphylococcal Ca...
Estimation of Salivary Tumour Necrosis Factor-α Levels in Post-menopausal Women with Chronic Periodontitis
ABSTRACT Introduction: Periodontitis and increased levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) are considered as key factors contributing to the bone loss observed in oestrogen deficient post-menopausal women. Aim: The...
Anaplastic Carcinoma Occurring in a Longstanding Multinodular Goitre Diagnosed by FNAC: A Rare Case
ABSTRACT Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma (ATC) remains one of the most virulent of all cancers in humans with a survival rate of only 1%. The widespread use of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) has significantly change...