Attitude and Training Needs among Health Students towards Tobacco Use

Tobacco use is one of the formidable health threats the world has ever faced. There are more than one billion smokers in the world. Overall, the use of tobacc6 products is increasing, although it is decreasing in high-income countries. It kills 5.4 million people, a year and accounts for one in 10 adult deaths worldwide. If current trends continue, there will be more than eight million by 2030, up to one billion deaths in the 21st century and about 80 percent of these deaths will occur in the developing world. The health professionals can take part in varying roles in tobacco control for health of the society. A cross sectional survey was conducted among nursing and pharmacy students using globally acclaimed questionnaire from Global Health Professional Survey. The study was conducted among 141 respondents from Nursing (n=62) and Pharmacy (n=79), in selected nursing and pharmacy colleges at Bangalore. The total population was selected through purposive sampling method. The data were systematically coded, computed and analysed using Statistical Software Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 21.0). The attitude towards tobacco use among health professional students was very optimistic. However, further efforts should be made by providing them with the required skills and support to quit smoking successfully and to provide tobacco cessation counselling for the patientss.