| Abstract [eng] |
Background: Tobacco use is the world's most prevalent addictive disease, claiming more than 8 million lives worldwide each year (1). Cigarettes are still the most used tobacco product, but there is a new trend of increasing use of e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco products. The current shift in the use of tobacco products calls for representative studies to show the current situation and to develop effective and relevant public health interventions. The aim of the study – to identify changes in tobacco product use habits and attitudes towards tobacco products among medical students. Objectives of the study: To determine the prevalence of tobacco product use among medical students now and 3 years ago, to assess the characteristics and causes of tobacco product use among medical students, and to determine the attitudes of medical students towards tobacco products now and 3 years ago. Methods. The research was conducted October 2022 -January 2023. The research was performed using an anonymous online based questionnaire. An international PATH questionnaire was adapted to disclose the research problem. 353 VU MF students participated in the survey. Microsoft Excel and R software were used for data processing and statistical analysis. Results and conclusions. The VU MF student population has a high and growing consumption of tobacco products. 79.6% (95% CI 75.1-83.5) of the study participants have used tobacco products at some point in their lives. Cigarettes were used 3 years ago by 54.8% of the students, in the last 12 months by 58.2% of the students, 13.9% of the students used cigarettes daily. Electronic cigarettes were used by 32.7% of students 3 years ago and 70.1% of students in the last 12 months, 23.1% of students used electronic cigarettes daily. The use of combustible tobacco products was reported by 22.8% of students 3 years ago and 57.7% of students in the last 12 months, 19.6% of students used combustible tobacco products daily. Statistically significantly more men than women use tobacco products. 48% of students have used their first tobacco product with an added flavor. Statistically significantly more women find tobacco products with added flavor easier to use than tobacco products without added flavor compared to men. Most tobacco users are polytobacco users. The most common reasons for using tobacco products by students are recreational use, relaxation, stress management. Students' attitudes towards tobacco products have changed over the last 3 years, with confidence in e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco products declining by several folds, but use of these products increasing. |
