[Tobacco dependency and adolescents: a good time to give up smoking? Relation to social and family factors]

Research progress and prospect on the safety of heated tobacco products

In recent years, Heated tobacco products (HTP) have gradually entered the market and become more and more popular with consumers because of their low risk (compared with traditional cigarette). With the increasing popularity and proportion of HTP in the international market, people pay more and more attention to the safety evaluation of HTP, but there is still a lack of systematic review of HTP safety research. In this review, the harmful components of HTP, multi-organ functional programming effects (including respiratory system, cardiovascular system, etc.), and mechanism of the effect generation (including oxidative stress, inflammatory response, etc.) were systematically reviewed, the safety effects of HTP and traditional cigarettes were compared in detail, and the shortcomings and future research directions in the field of HTP safety were discussed. In summary, this review conforms to the general trend of contemporary "tobacco and health", helps people to understand and evaluate HTP more systematically, and provides a strong theoretical support and literature basis for the tobacco industry to carry out HTP risk assessment and exposure improvement.

Factors Affecting Smoking Status of Nursing Students and Their Addiction Levels

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to determine the smoking habits of students of Atatürk Health College of Dicle University and the factors affecting them.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed between April 15 and 19, 2013. The selection of sampling was not conducted, since the whole study population included. Of 400 registered students, 326 (81.5%) were included. For collecting data, a questionnaire form designed by the researcher and Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence for determining the addiction level were applied. Percentage calculation was used for analyzing data, and chi-square test was employed for evaluating the relationship between the variables.

RESULTS

The mean age of students was 21.4±2.3 years. Of them, 12.3% still smoked and 4% had quit. Of the smokers, 21.9% were males and 3.5% were females. Of the smokers, 67.5% stated that they tried to quit smoking and 72.5% replied that they thought of quitting smoking in the future. It was found that 47.5% of the students smoked 11-20 cigarettes a day. Of the students who still smoked and who had quitted, 47.2% had begun to smoke at the age of 10-15 years. As the cause for smoking initiation, 50.9% of the students revealed stress, difficulties, and sadness and 35.8% revealed the effect of a friend. A statistically significant difference was found between smoking habit and age, gender, class, and the presence of smokers among close friends (p<0.05). Moreover, it was detected that 35% of the students were over dependent.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of smoking among the youth is high. To decrease smoking prevalence, the reasons for smoking initiation should be investigated and some precautions should be taken before the university age, and they should be continued during the university education.

[Characteristics of smoking, nicotine dependence and motivation for change in specialists training in health sciences (residents) in Andalusia (Spain)]

OBJECTIVE

As there are few studies on the smoking habits of specialists training in health sciences (residents), it is of interest to determine the prevalence of smoking, nicotine dependence and motivation for change, and their relationship with other variables (personal, work and consumption of other drugs).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A multicentre, cross-sectional study using a questionnaire was conducted in 2012. All the residents who were studying in Teaching Health Centres in Andalusia (Spain) completed a questionnaire, which was sent by e-mail, collecting: age, sex, specialty, country of origin, qualitative-quantitative consumption of tobacco, age of onset/cessation, Fagerström test and stage of change (Proschaka).

RESULTS

A total of 2667 residents (63% of total) completed the questionnaire. The mean age was 29.1 years (± 5.2), 69% female, 89% Spanish, and 86% physicians. Of the 17% who smoked (daily pattern-47%, intermittently-41%, related to leisure-3%), starting at 17.4 years (±3.5) and mean of 7.5 cigarettes per day (±7.1), higher medical specialties (P=.067 ANOVA), and in men (P=.074, Student-t). More than three-quarters (82%) had a low nicotine dependence, being higher in hospital medical specialties (P=.078 χ(2)). Of the total, 7% were former smokers, and 48% wanted to quit smoking (contemplation 38%, preparation 10%). In the multivariate analysis there was a link between smoking and alcohol consumption (OR 2.84) and illegal drugs (OR 3.57). There were no differences by age or country.

CONCLUSIONS

The consumption of tobacco in residents is less than the general population, with a low dependence and better willingness to change. The period of specialised training is a good time to offer tobacco interventions.

[Lifestyles related with cardiovascular risk in university students]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the lifestyles associated with cardiovascular risk in a university population in university admission.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional students of the Catholic University San Antonio of Murcia. Select a sample of 672 college students enrolled in the first year of the race. The instrument used to collect the data, is a self-completed questionnaire anonymous, with a total of 59 questions.

RESULTS

With respect to smoking 242 are smokers (36%), 117 former smokers (17.4%), and 313 non-smokers (46.6%). When compared snuff consumption by sex, no differences are detected. By running the largest group of non-smokers often seen in students of physical sciences (59.1%) compared to the careers humanities (40.9%). 87.4% (587) of students surveyed report using alcohol, compared to 12.6% (85) no. According to the race group not detected association between race group and the fact consume alcohol or not. The 65.6% of students surveyed physical exercise commonly referred, being higher the frequency of exercise in men than in women (81.7% versus 49.4%) (P<.001). 54.3% of surveyed students follow a dietary pattern typical of the Mediterranean diet.

CONCLUSIONS

The University does not exercise the role that could mean in terms of enhancing healthy lifestyles and abandonment of harmful health styles.

[Association between the consumption of tobacco and alcohol and physical exercise while at university]

OBJECTIVE

To find out the influence that going to University has on changing smoking and alcohol habits, and on physical exercise in students in the EU.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional descriptive study.

SETTING

University of Murcia.

PARTICIPANTS

A sample of 1179 students was selected.

INTERVENTIONS

A self-filled and anonymous questionnaire was used. It consisted of 36 questions using 4 measurement scales: level of health information on cardiovascular risks (CVR), smoking, alcohol consumption and doing physical exercise.

RESULTS

A total of 39.2% of university students in their last academic year said they were smokers, compared to 36.4% in the first year (NS). A total of 81.6% of first year students had consumed alcohol at weekends, compared to 81.1% of those in their last year (NS). In the overall assessment of alcohol consumption, 13% "stopped drinking or drank less: and 10% "drank more", although the majority (55%), did not change their drinking habits. As regards physical exercise, the number of students who did more physical exercise was 21.2% in the first academic year, compared to 20% of students in their last year (NS).

CONCLUSIONS

Going to University does not seem to exercise a positive influence on the habits and lifestyles of young people. Measures should be taken to encourage healthy lifestyles in Universities.

[Evolution of the consumption of toxic substances among the adolescents of an urban area (1997-2004)]

OBJECTIVES

To find the evolution of the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among adolescents in an urban area.

DESIGN

Descriptive, cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire.

SETTING

Secondary school (middle-class urban area).

PARTICIPANTS AND MEASUREMENTS

Six hundred and seventy-eight students took part in the years 1997, 2001, and 2004.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The questionnaire included questions on age, sex and consumption of toxic substances. The following figures are given in order of the year of study. We studied 172, 249, and 257 adolescents, with a mean age of 14 (interval, 12-17) and equality of sexes. The proportion of adolescents with no consumption of toxic substances increased (21%+/-3.1%; 34%+/-3.0% 56%+/-3.1%; P<.001, chi2), basically because alcohol consumption dropped (58%+/-3.6%; 61%+/-3.2%; 41%+/-3.1%; P<.001, chi2), although its weekend consumption increased (84%+/-2.6%; 85%+/-2.2%; 96%+/-1.2%; P<.05, chi2), especially of spirits. Tobacco consumption increased (12%+/-2.4%; 21%+/-2.3%; 29%+/-2.4%; P<.001, chi2) with a pattern of daily smoking (9%+/-0.6%; 34%+/-3.2%; 47%+/-3.1%; P<.01, chi2). The consumption of illegal rugs also increased (9%+/-0.6%; 24%+/-2.8%; 16%+/-2.4%; P<.001, chi2), with an intermittent pattern of consumption (87%+/-1.6%; 71%+/-2.3%; 85%+/-1.8). Cannabis is the most used drug (>90%), cocaine use fell and design drug use increased. Age affected consumption, but sex did not.

CONCLUSIONS

In the last 8 years the consumption of toxic substances among adolescents has dropped, mainly because of less alcohol consumption. However, new forms of consumption of alcohol and other illegal drugs, especially at weekends, emerged and daily consumption of tobacco increased.