Smoking More Common Among Nursing Than Medical Students

[Brian, ASN, RN]

I rarely post press releases, but thought this one would make some good discussion, so here it is.... brian

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The following document is an official press release from the medical journal

CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians

(ACCP).

SMOKING MORE COMMON AMONG NURSING THAN MEDICAL STUDENTS

New Study Shows Decline in Smoking Rate Among Medical School Students

(NORTHBROOK, IL, October 14, 2003) - Nursing students are more likely to

smoke cigarettes and to be more severely nicotine-dependent than medical

students, says a study published in the October issue of CHEST, the peer-

reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP).

The study found that four times as many nursing students smoke cigarettes than

medical students, and nearly twice as many nursing students are former

smokers. The study also found that the smoking rate among medical students

has significantly decreased in the last decade and that medical students who do

smoke are less nicotine dependent than their nursing counterparts.

"In the current climate of disease prevention and health promotion, smoking

behaviors of future physicians and nurses have become increasingly important,"

said lead author Ashwin A. Patkar, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Human

Behavior, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA. "Physicians and nurses can

significantly influence health-related behavior of patients. However, health-care

professionals who smoke are at a particular disadvantage when attempting to

impact their patients' smoking related diseases and are less likely to positively

influence their behavior."

Researchers from Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in

Philadelphia investigated the smoking habits of medical and nursing students

enrolled at the university and examined whether smoking habits changed during

the course of education for each group. Medical and nursing students completed

anonymous surveys containing questions on graduating class year and

demographics, and the Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence (FTND).

Surveys were completed by 397 medical students (212 women and 185 men) and

126 nursing students (105 women and 21 men). Survey results revealed that

13.5 percent of nursing students smoked cigarettes, as compared to 3.3 percent

of medical students. In addition, 17.4 percent of nursing students and 9.8

percent of medical students considered themselves former smokers. Average

smoking rates in the general population are estimated at more than 25 percent,

while studies conducted in the 1990s indicated a 15-25 percent smoking rate in

nursing students and a 2-10 percent smoking rate in medical students.

Of the students who smoked, 89.7 percent of nursing students were women, as

compared to 57.6 percent of medical students. Female smokers in both groups

had a higher FTND score than male smokers and reported smoking more

cigarettes per day, more often, and sooner after waking up in the morning.

"The decrease in the number of medical students smoking cigarettes is

encouraging. It seems that the decision to begin training to be future doctors

may make medical students more aware of the need to quit in order to appear as

good role models to patients and the public," said Dr. Patkar. "Gender

differences could partially explain the smoking variations between medical and

nursing students, but nursing students may also be less aware of their role and

responsibilities to provide smoking cessation treatment than medical students."

When smoking habits were compared across class years, no differences were

found in the number of smokers or former smokers, mean FTND scores, and

immediate plans to quit. However, in medical students, the mean time since

quitting was 1.6 years for the first-year medical class, 2.4 years for the second-

year class, and 3.5 years for the third and fourth year classes, leading

researchers to believe that former smokers may have quit within 12 months

before entering medical school. No such differenc

former smokers in nursing school.

"As health-care providers, we have the responsibility to our patients to model a

healthy lifestyle, including abstaining from tobacco use," said Udaya B. S.

Prakash, MD, FCCP, President of the American College of Chest Physicians.

"Medical and nursing schools can encourage this healthy lifestyle by offering

tobacco cessation services for students and educational programs that will help

prepare future medical professionals to counsel patients who smoke."

CHEST is a peer-reviewed journal published by the ACCP. It is available online

each month at http://www.chestjournal.org. ACCP represents more than 15,700

members who provide clinical respiratory, critical care, and cardiothoracic patient

care in the United States and throughout the world. ACCP's mission is to promote

the prevention and treatment of diseases of the chest through leadership,

education, research, and communication.

[live4today, RN]

Hmmm...very interesting report, Brian. I've never been a FIRST hand smoker, but can relate to this article with people I know who do smoke. I know where I work, the "smoker's outdoor spot" is very well visited, so there are plenty of staff still contributing to those figures quoted in the article. :)

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

That is interesting. What how nurses compare to respiratory therapists?