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.
Maria Caterina Grassi, Massimo Baraldo, Christian Chiamulera, Franco Culasso, Tobias Raupach, Amy K Ferketich, Carlo Patrono, Paolo Nencini
Author Information
Maria Caterina Grassi: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "V. Erspamer", School of Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. ORCID
Massimo Baraldo: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Udine, Piazzale S. Maria della Misericordia, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Christian Chiamulera: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Verona, Policlinico G. B. Rossi, Piazzale Scuro 10, 36134 Verona, Italy.
Franco Culasso: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Tobias Raupach: Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Hospital Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany ; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E7HB, UK. ORCID
Amy K Ferketich: Division of Epidemiology, The Ohio State University College of Public Health, 1841 Neil Ave, 310 Cunz Hall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Carlo Patrono: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Paolo Nencini: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "V. Erspamer", School of Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Aims of the study were to compare medical students (MS) to non-MS with respect to their knowledge of 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 smoking epidemiology and health effects ("Score 1"), and effectiveness of cessation treatments ("Score 2"). Upon completion of 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 < 0.001; d = 0.69). Respective values for Score 2 were 48.1 ± 10.8% and 42.6 ± 10.6% (P < 0.001; d = 0.50). Fifth year students who had attended the lecture in year 4 scored higher than students who had not attended the lecture. Significant differences were noted one but not two years after the educational intervention. In conclusion, MS know slightly more about smoking-related diseases and methods to achieve cessation than nonmedical students; a short educational intervention was associated with better knowledge one year later, but the effect was moderate and short-lived.
References
J Occup Med Toxicol. 2010 Apr 16;5:9
[PMID: 20398350]
