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The Relation Between Smoking Habit Among the Students and Faculty Members in Marmara University and Steady Cost of Smoking
Authors: Ayşegül YILDIRIM KAPTANOĞLU, Gülden POLAT, Makbule SOYER
Number of views: 359
It was aimed in this study to quantify smoking habits and nicotine dependency of future health care professionals such as doctors, dentists,
pharmacists, nurses, and midwives, as well as academic members of associated faculties and to calculate the economic steady cost of
smoking. Students in the faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy, and Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Nursing and
Midwifery and faculty members in Marmara University were included in the study. As a means of data collection, Fagerstrom test for
nicotine dependence (FTND), and questionnaire including questions about socio-demographic data and cost of smoking were performed.
Prevalence of smoking was found 36,89% for faculty members and 22,02% for students; there was significant difference between these two
groups (t=11,08; p<0,05). The mean FTND score of the students and faculty members was 4,1±1,9, and 6,6±2,3, respectively. There was
also statistically significant difference between the mean FTND scores of two groups (t=8,37; p<0,05). According to calculations, students
and faculty members spends 1/4 and 1/5 -of their income to smoking, respectively. Only steady costs were calculated in this study; indirect
costs of smoking were not included. Teaching staff of health care education like a medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing and midwifery in
university need to quit smoking themselves in order to encourage smoking cessation. This study is unique for investigation smoking status
students and trainers at the university level. This is also only survey that measures the cost of nicotine dependency and smoking. Academic
staffs in field of health sciences should, as a role model, first quit smoking themselves to promote smoking cessation activities.