Current smoking prevalence and influencing factors among university students in Shanghai / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

ABSTRACT

Objective · To understand current smoking status and analyze its influencing factors among university students in Shanghai, and provide reference and guidance for further efforts of tobacco control in campus. Methods · A total of 4816 students from 19 col eges in Shanghai were selected by stratified multi-stage cluster sampling and the sample size in each part was decided by proportion of col eges and types of specialities. Self-administered questionnaire was conducted to understand the current tobacco use and its influencing factors were analyzed. Results · The overal smoking prevalence of col ege students in Shanghai was 5.80%. General y, smoking prevalence of junior col ege students was higher than that of undergraduates (11.27% vs 3.68%, P<0.05) and smoking prevalence of male students was higher than that of females (11.10% vs 0.95%, P<0.05). Nonsmokers endorsed higher awareness on the harm of smoking and second-hand smoking than smokers(P<0.01). Besides, nonsmokers had a more positive attitude towards tobacco control policy than smokers (P<0.01). Students who studied in the junior college, males, in the senior grade, majored in liberal arts, with higher monthly living expenses, held negative attitude in raising cigarette prices and supporting of establishing smoke-free campuses were more likely to be smokers. Conclusion · Tobacco use among university students in Shanghai deserves attention. It is necessary to carry out systematic and in-depth education to prevent and reduce smoking among the university students.