Smoking Practices of Dental and Oral Health Students at UWC

Objectives:To determine the smoking related knowledge, attitudes and practices of dental and oral health students at the University of the Western Cape. Method: A self administered questionnaire with open ended and closed questions was used to gather information. Variables measured included: demographic information of students, their knowledge of smoking on health and oral health, their attitude to smoking, reasons for starting and smoking practices from the time they started until the present study. Results: The response rate was 62% (n=375). The mean age was 21 years (range 17-34years), 63% were females, 82% were dental and 18% oral health students. Students have a basic knowledge of the efffect of smoking on health and oral health. Most felt that smoking is harmful to their health and the health of those around them. The mean age students started to smoke was 16years, 23% are current smokers and 15% are past smokers. They report to start smoking because of curiosity and peer pressure and currently smoke because of addiction, habit and pleasure. All current smokers have thought about or tried to stop smoking at some time. Conclusion: The university may need to consider providing a smoking cessation counselling service for students.