RESEARCH ARTICLE: Smoking habits, attitudes and determinants among university aged population: Comparison of pharmacy and non-pharmacy students from a private university in Lebanon

Authors

  • Mohammad Assi Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Nehmatalla Onaissy Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6358-8575
  • Fouad Sakr Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & Université Paris-Est Créteil, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Créteil, France https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6905-5814
  • Michelle Cherfan Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & Abu Dhabi University, College of Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates & INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6438-0159
  • Zeina Akiki Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Mariam Dabbous Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & Lebanese International University, School of Education, Beirut, Lebanon https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5191-3497
  • Marwan Akel Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon & International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), The Netherlands
  • Jihan Safwan Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8602-1042

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2022.221.523532

Keywords:

Attitude, Determinant, Habit, Non-pharmacy, Pharmacy, Smoking

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence of smoking among pharmacy students and to analyse how smoking affects pharmacy students’ attitudes towards smoking cessation practices.

Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed to students from five schools at the Lebanese International University as part of a cross-sectional study. It looked into sociodemographic identities, smoking attitudes and beliefs, and pharmacy students’ smoking cessation consultation procedures.

Results: A total of 1372 students were enrolled in the study (159 pharmacy students and 1213 non-pharmacy students). Almost half of the participants (45.0%) were current smokers, with males accounting for the majority. There was a substantial correlation between knowledge of smoking's health implications and smoking status (p = 0.021). Nonsmoking pharmacy students were more likely than smokers to offer cessation advice (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: A high smoking prevalence was determined among students, which should be addressed by boosting tobacco awareness efforts and enforcing strict anti-smoking policies on college premises.

Author Biographies

Mohammad Assi, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

Clinical Pharmacist, School of Pharmacy

Nehmatalla Onaissy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

Clinical Pharmacist, School of Pharmacy

Fouad Sakr, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & Université Paris-Est Créteil, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Créteil, France

Clinical Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences Department

Michelle Cherfan, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & Abu Dhabi University, College of Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates & INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon

Clinical Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences Department

Zeina Akiki, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon

Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, PharmD Department

Mariam Dabbous, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & Lebanese International University, School of Education, Beirut, Lebanon

Clinical Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice Department

Marwan Akel, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon & International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), The Netherlands

Clinical Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice Department

Jihan Safwan, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

Clinical Associate Professor and Assistant Dean, Biomedical Sciences Department

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Published

02-06-2022

How to Cite

Assi, M., Onaissy, N., Sakr, F., Cherfan, M., Akiki, Z., Dabbous, M., Akel, M., & Safwan, J. (2022). RESEARCH ARTICLE: Smoking habits, attitudes and determinants among university aged population: Comparison of pharmacy and non-pharmacy students from a private university in Lebanon. Pharmacy Education, 22(1), p. 523–532. https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2022.221.523532

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 1 (2022)

Section

Research Article

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