Factores del tabaquismo: reflexiones en torno al ensayo de una encuesta

Abstract

Smoking habit shows a great variety in Chile according to geographic areas, but there is a general trend of increase in prevalence. The main purpose of this study is to search for characteristics of personal development among medical students which might contribute to the smoking habit as well as to identify the consequences that this behavior might have in their professional work. Multiple choice and essay questionnaires were applied to 80 students belonging to 5" year of the University of Chile Medical School, in 1999 and 2000. Three groups were individualized: smokers, those who quit smoking and those who have never smoked. Out of the group investigated 27% smoke and 59% have never smoked. The remainder used to smoke and stopped doing it later. Men smoke more (34%) than women (20%). Clear-cut differences exist between current smokers and non-smokers in regard to their attitudes in respect of tobacco use. Members of the first group draw great pleasure from the habit and most state that they see no way to stop it; in fact, many (71%) have tried and failed. This is in spite of the fact that they are aware of the health consequences of tobacco. All non-smokers, on the contrary, feel disgusted in regard of tobacco and tobacco smoke. They would never indulge in smoking. They are inclined to give more clear advice to patients and to recommend a greater variety of control measures at population level. Surveys of this kind may serve to identify health profession students who need special training in order to contribute appropriately to tobacco control. They may also constitute stating points for identifying risk factors for the risk factor “smoking”.