Determinants and Perceptions of Tobacco Use Habits of University Students: An Example from Health Services School Students in Istanbul

Aim: To examine tobacco and tobacco use behaviors of the students of Health Vocational School and to reveal the determining factors on this behavior. Methods: This research was carried out in Medipol University Health Services Vocational School. A structured questionnaire with a total of 26 questions was applied to 307 students face to face. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 23 program by Pearson chi-square test and binary logistic regression model. Before the study, approval was obtained from the Medipol University Non-Invasive Research Ethics Committee. Results: The survey data showed that 32.6% of the students used tobacco products (mainly cigarettes), the frequency of smoking habit of male students was higher, they started smoking at an earlier age and the amount of daily consumption was higher. In the development of smoking behavior, it has been observed that having the belief of “smoking is harmful for health” has a decreasing effect, whereas smoking of frequently seen friends has an increasing effect. When the first and last years of university education are compared, it is found that the number of students who smoke increases over time. Conclusion: Compared to previous studies, smoking and waterpipe use are increased among Health Vocational School students in our society. In this increase, gender, peer influence, curiosity, interest, stress, and cultural characteristics come to the front. For this reason, it is important to consider these issues in policies to combat tobacco products