Physicians have an important role to play in prevention and cessation of tobacco use. The aims of this study were to compare Medical Students (MS) to non-MS with respect to their knowledge on smoking and to investigate the effect of a short educational intervention on MS knowledge. MS (n=962) and students of architecture and law (n=229) were asked to complete a 60-item questionnaire addressing knowledge of epidemiology and health-effects of smoking (“Score 1”) as well as the effectiveness of cessation treatments (“Score 2”). Upon completion of the questionnaire, fourth-year MS received a lecture on tobacco dependence. These students were asked to complete the same questionnaire one and two years later. Mean values for score 1 were 48.911.5% in MS and 40.511.4% in non-MS (p<.001; effect size d=0.69). Respective values for score 2 were 48.110.8% and 42.610.6% (p<.001; d=0.50). Fifth-year students who had attended the lecture in year 4 scored higher than students who had not attended the lecture (Score 1: 55.012.7% vs. 50.511.6%, p=.01; d = 0.37; Score 2: 55.413.7% vs. 49.711.0%, p=.001; d=0.46). Significant differences were only noted one year but not two years after the educational intervention. Italian undergraduate MS know only little more about smoking-related disease and methods to achieve cessation than students of non-medical professions. Attending a lecture was associated with slightly better knowledge one year later, but the effect was moderate and short-lived. Keywords:

Knowledge about health effects of cigarette smoking and quitting among Italian University students: the importance of teaching nicotine dependence and treatment in the medical curriculum / Grassi, Maria Caterina; M., Baraldo; C., Chiamulera; Culasso, Franco; T., Raupach; A. K., Ferketich; C., Patrono; Nencini, Paolo. - In: BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL. - ISSN 2314-6141. - ELETTRONICO. - Special Issue:(2014), pp. ?-?. [10.1155/2014/321657]

Knowledge about health effects of cigarette smoking and quitting among Italian University students: the importance of teaching nicotine dependence and treatment in the medical curriculum

GRASSI, Maria Caterina;CULASSO, Franco;NENCINI, Paolo
2014

Abstract

Physicians have an important role to play in prevention and cessation of tobacco use. The aims of this study were to compare Medical Students (MS) to non-MS with respect to their knowledge on smoking and to investigate the effect of a short educational intervention on MS knowledge. MS (n=962) and students of architecture and law (n=229) were asked to complete a 60-item questionnaire addressing knowledge of epidemiology and health-effects of smoking (“Score 1”) as well as the effectiveness of cessation treatments (“Score 2”). Upon completion of the questionnaire, fourth-year MS received a lecture on tobacco dependence. These students were asked to complete the same questionnaire one and two years later. Mean values for score 1 were 48.911.5% in MS and 40.511.4% in non-MS (p<.001; effect size d=0.69). Respective values for score 2 were 48.110.8% and 42.610.6% (p<.001; d=0.50). Fifth-year students who had attended the lecture in year 4 scored higher than students who had not attended the lecture (Score 1: 55.012.7% vs. 50.511.6%, p=.01; d = 0.37; Score 2: 55.413.7% vs. 49.711.0%, p=.001; d=0.46). Significant differences were only noted one year but not two years after the educational intervention. Italian undergraduate MS know only little more about smoking-related disease and methods to achieve cessation than students of non-medical professions. Attending a lecture was associated with slightly better knowledge one year later, but the effect was moderate and short-lived. Keywords:
2014
smoking; smoking cessation; nicotine dependence; medical curriculum.
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Knowledge about health effects of cigarette smoking and quitting among Italian University students: the importance of teaching nicotine dependence and treatment in the medical curriculum / Grassi, Maria Caterina; M., Baraldo; C., Chiamulera; Culasso, Franco; T., Raupach; A. K., Ferketich; C., Patrono; Nencini, Paolo. - In: BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL. - ISSN 2314-6141. - ELETTRONICO. - Special Issue:(2014), pp. ?-?. [10.1155/2014/321657]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/558723
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