A STUDY ON AWARENESS OF TOBACCO USE AND CANCER RISK AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Abstract

Introduction: Tobacco use is a major health and social problem worldwide.Among the Ill effects of tobacco use, the proportion of cancer in Male and female is 56.4% and 44.9%.Youth in general and adolescents in particular fall prey to this deadly habit with severe physical, psychological, and economic implications.Among the youth, students are particularly involved due to increasing academic pressures and life related stress

Objective: The objective of the study was to Estimate the Awareness on Use of Tobacco and cancer risk among medical students.

Material and methods: it was a Cross sectional study and was done in Sri Aurobindo Medical College. Prior permission was obtained from college authorities.Ethical Approval is obtained from the ethical committee of Sri Aurobindo institute of medical sciences.The study period was of 3 months duration i.e. from may 2015 - July 2015. 300 Under graduate medical students were selected for the study.

Results: Awareness about ill effect of tobacco was high.About 90% students were aware of role of smoking in causing oral and lung cancer, whereas only 60 % were aware of other cancers caused by smoking other than lung and oral.80% students were aware of role of passive smoking in causing cancer.Reason for starting smoking was Influence of friends, parents and movies were 22%, 20%, 27% respectively. Surprisingly 31% students gave reason for exam and life related stress for their smoking. 97% tobacco users were male and 3 % were female.In females all were using smoking tobacco.

Conclusion: The awareness among medical students regarding harmful effects of tobacco use and its cancer risk was very high.