Conducta fumadora en estudiantes de kinesiología y su asociación con actitudes y conocimientos sobre tabaquismo. Estudio de corte transversal

Abstract

Introduction: Notwithstanding control policies, smoking continues to be a health problem in university students and health professionals, who are responsible for implementing programs oriented to prevention and cessation of smoking in the community. The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of smoking and attitudes about smoking in physical therapy students. Methods: Cross- sectional study carried out in students of physical therapy from three universities of Concepción city (Chile), during the years 2017 and 2018. Behavior and attitudes about smoking were evaluated. Asso- ciation between smoking behavior and attitudes about smoking was determined by logistic regression. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: 554 questionnaires were answered. 57.8% of respondents had never smoked, 13.0% had not smoked in the last 6 months and 29.4% were current smokers. Moreover 99.5% of respondents stated some degree of agreement that smoking is harmful to health, which was related to smoking behavior (p < 0.0002). In relation to attitudes about smoking, compared to non-smokers, current smokers have a greater chance of showing disagreement or indifference regarding positive attitudes about smoking. Mainly in those actions that restrict tobac- co consumption, sale and disclosure (weighted OR = 2.43, 95% CI 2.02 - 2.92). Conclusions: The prevalence of current smoking in physical therapy students from Concepcion city is 29.2%. Smoking students express lower approval related to interventions, attitudes and consequences of smoking for health compared with non-smokers.