Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115861

Ergun Oksuz, Medico Social Health Center, Baskent University, Baglica Kampusu, Eskisehir Yolu 20. Km, Ankara, 06530, Turkey, 90-312-234-1010(1423), eoksuz@baskent.edu.tr, Simten Malhan, School of Health Sciences, Department of Health Care Management, Baskent University, Eskisehir Yolu 20. Km., 06530, Ankara, Turkey, Meric Colak, PhD, Department of Healthcare Administration, Baskent University School of Health Sciences, Eskisehir Yolu 20. Km., Baglica Kampusu, Ankara, 06530, Turkey, and Korkut Ersoy, Department of Health Care Management, Baskent University, School of Health Sciences, Eskisehir Yolu, 20. Km., Ankara, Turkey.

Aim. To determine the prevalence of tobacco-use and describe tobacco-related knowledge, perceptions, and behavior of university students in Turkey.

Methods. A cross-sectional questionnaire study was carried out among 640 students in Ankara, Turkey. All students who consented to participate in the study filled out a questionnaire consisting of 158 questions, with core items selected from the Youth Tobacco Survey and Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. The questions were grouped into categories relating to tobacco use, knowledge and attitudes toward smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, attitudes toward cessation of smoking, exposure to tobacco-related advertisements.

Results. Out of 640 students, 368 (57.5%) reported having smoked tobacco, with 16.8% of them trying or starting smoking before the age of 10. There were 330 (51.6%) current smokers. More than one-third (33.9%) of current smokers expressed a desire to stop smoking, 25.5% had tried to stop, and 3.6% had received help or advice to stop smoking. At least two-thirds of the students reported seeing both anti-tobacco and pro-tobacco advertisements in the preceding month. 75.6% of the students live in a home with at least one smoker. Current smokers were also more likely than non-smokers to be exposed to passive smoking at home (81.2% vs at 69.7%, respectively; p=0.001).

Conclusion. Although all forms of tobacco advertising were banned in Turkey nine years ago, many university students in Ankara are exposed to tobacco advertising. Public awareness efforts to control smoking among university students should also target their parents and other household members.

Learning Objectives:

• Public awareness efforts to control smoking among university students should also target their parents and other household members.

Keywords: Tobacco, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.