Research papers
← vista completaPublished on April 18, 2015 | http://doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2015.03.6124
Smoking and spirometric values in third year medical students: cross-sectional study
Estudio transversal sobre tabaquismo y su relación con valores espirométricos en estudiantes de tercer año de medicina
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to determine frequency of cigarette smoking and its relationship with indicators of lung function, as well as habits and attitudes towards smoking in third-year medical students of the Health Sciences Institute, Héctor A. Barceló Foundation, Santo Tomé, Corrientes, Argentina.
METHODS We performed a cross-sectional and analytic study in third-year medical students, during the first two weeks of October 2014. We divided the study group into smokers and non-smokers and we obtained spirometric values with a computerized Flowmax 2 spirometer following the protocols established by the American Thoracic Society. In addition, we applied a questionnaire to the study group with 36 questions including the Fagerström test.
RESULTS We obtained a mean age of 22.5 ± 3.81 years in 227 students; 52.9% were female and 47.1% male; 26.4% were smokers, predominantly male and with a larger consumption of cigarettes than women; 5% of smokers presented obstructive ventilatory spirometric patterns with a significant association (p = 0.017) with smoking. Twenty-five percent (25%) of male and 8.4% of female showed moderate to high tobacco physical dependence. In the non-smoker group, 18.6% had quit in the previous year or earlier, mostly to improve their health.
CONCLUSION It is important to encourage medical students to quit smoking, as well as to be aware of the harm that second-hand smoke produces. The future physician should be cognizant of the consequences associated with smoking and the importance of preventing and educating patients acting as a role model very early in their studies.
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