The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Smoking among medical professionals is a cause of serious concern. In this study we evaluate smoking habits, beliefs and attitudes of Pakistani medical students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2004/2005 at three medical colleges using a self-administered WHO questionnaire.

Results: A total of 1024 students participated in the study. 271 (21%) had smoked at least once, while 105 (10%) were current smokers and had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. Eighty-seven per cent of smokers were males while only thirteen per cent were females. Forty-seven per cent of smoker had tried to give up smoking at least once. Majority believed passive smoking is harmful to health. Students were generally supportive of legislative measures to reduce tobacco use such as restriction of smoking in public places and prohibition of tobacco sale to children. Lesser but significant number thought that there should be a complete ban on smoking advertisements and that the price of tobacco products should be increased sharply. The study shows a high prevalence of tobacco use in future physicians even though knowledge and attitude of students towards smoking was deemed to be satisfactory.There is a need to include "Tobacco Control" as a subject in the medical students curriculum.