RT Journal Article
T1 Smoking behavior and secondhand smoke exposure among university students in northern Portugal: relations with knowledge on tobacco use and attitudes toward smoking
A1 Alves, Regina Ferreira
A1 Precioso, José
A1 Becoña Iglesias, Elisardo
K1 Tobacco
K1 Secondhand Smoke
K1 Higher Education
K1 Knowledge
K1 Attitudes
K1 Behaviors
AB ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of active smoking and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among college students in the north of Portugal, and analyze the relationship between knowledge about tobacco use and attitudes toward smoking.Materials and methodsThis a cross-sectional study with a representative sample of college students (n = 840) in one university in Portugal. A validated self-reported questionnaire was administered to a proportional stratified random sample during the academic year of 2018/2019. We evaluated associations between smoking status, SHS exposure, smokers peers, knowledge and attitudes toward smoking and sociodemographic variables.ResultsThe results showed that 20.1% of the students surveyed were current smokers (7.3% occasional smokers, 2.9% regular smokers and 9.9% daily smokers). Most current smokers started smoking before the age of 17 (61.4%) and reported never having tried to quit smoking (59.7%). Only 34.4% of students reported (almost) not having been in enclosed spaces with smokers in the past 7 days. Exposure to SHS and having smoker friends contributes to the prevalence of tobacco use. In general, students showed favorable attitudes toward smoking, especially those who are smokers, have smoking friends and are more exposed to SHS. The level of knowledge about tobacco was moderate, with a higher number of correct responses by former smokers.ConclusionsThese results suggests an urgent need for socio-educational programs for counseling on smoking cessation. In addition, is also strongly recommended that, throughout academic training, students develop personal and social skills for dealing with the tobacco epidemic.
PB Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia
SN 2531-0429
YR 2022
FD 2022
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/29922
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/29922
LA eng
NO Alves RF, Precioso J, Becoña E. Smoking behavior and secondhand smoke exposure among university students in northern Portugal: Relations with knowledge on tobacco use and attitudes toward smoking. Pulmonology. 2022 May-Jun;28(3):193-202. doi: 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2020.03.004. Epub 2020 May 20
DS Minerva
RD 25 abr 2026