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It was aimed in this study to quantify smoking habits and nicotine dependency of future health care professionals such as doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, and midwives, as well as academic members of associated faculties and to calculate the economic steady cost of smoking. Students in the faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy, and Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Nursing and Midwifery and faculty members in Marmara University were included in the study. As a means of data collection, Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence (FTND), and questionnaire including questions about socio-demographic data and cost of smoking were performed. Prevalence of smoking was found 36,89% for faculty members and 22,02% for students; there was significant difference between these two groups (t=11,08; p<0,05). The mean FTND score of the students and faculty members was 4,1±1,9, and 6,6±2,3, respectively. There was also statistically significant difference between the mean FTND scores of two groups (t=8,37; p<0,05). According to calculations, students and faculty members spends 1/4 and 1/5 -of their income to smoking, respectively. Only steady costs were calculated in this study; indirect costs of smoking were not included. Teaching staff of health care education like a medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing and midwifery in university need to quit smoking themselves in order to encourage smoking cessation. This study is unique for investigation smoking status students and trainers at the university level. This is also only survey that measures the cost of nicotine dependency and smoking. Academic staffs in field of health sciences should, as a role model, first quit smoking themselves to promote smoking cessation activities. |
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