Global Health Professions Student Survey among Healthcare students: a cross sectional study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Tobacco Control

Background:

• Healthcare professionals significantly influence patient smoking cessation.
• Healthcare professionals' own smoking habits and views on tobacco can impede effective patient counseling.
• Addressing smoking among future healthcare providers is vital for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess smoking prevalence and cessation training among healthcare students.
• To identify specific student groups with higher smoking rates.
• To evaluate the adequacy of current undergraduate curricula in preparing students for smoking cessation counseling.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare students at Sapienza University of Rome.
• The study utilized an online questionnaire, the Italian version of the Global Health Professions Student Survey (GHPSS).
• Data were collected from 349 participating students.

Main Results:

• 45% of surveyed healthcare students were current smokers, with nursing students showing the highest prevalence (55%).
• While 90% of students learned about tobacco's health consequences, only 24% received specific smoking cessation training.
• A significant gap exists between awareness of tobacco risks and practical training in cessation techniques.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare students exhibit considerable smoking rates, impacting their ability to counsel patients.
• Undergraduate curricula require the implementation of dedicated smoking cessation courses.
• Enhanced training is necessary to equip future healthcare professionals for effective patient smoking cessation support.