Abstract

PREVALENCE AND DETERMINANTS OF TOBACCO SMOKING AND EFFECTIVENESS OF NRT FOR TOBACCO CESSATION AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS IN A PRIVATE INSTITUTION

Batool Babaei Jahromi*, K. Ram Kumar, Dr. Praveen Kumar and Dr. B.A. Vishwanath

Abstract

Aim: To estimate prevalence and determinants of tobacco smoking and effectiveness of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) for tobacco cessation among college students in a private institution. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in Aditya Institutions for a period of 6 months. The data was directly collected from the students with the help of informed consent form, well prepared questionnaire and data collection form. The data was collected in suitably designed documentation form. Result: Two fifty students were included in the study, out of which 58.8% (n=147) students were smokers and 41.2% (n=103) students were non smokers. Out of 147 smokers 25.17% (n=37) students belongs to the age group of17 to 20, 42.17% (n=62) of students were in the age group of 21 to 24 and 32.65% (n=48) 0f students were in the age above 26. From Fagerstrom test, out of 147 tobacco smokers, 2%(N=3) of students were having high level of dependence to tobacco smoking, 3.4%(n=5) of students having moderate level of dependence and 94.5%(n=139) of students having low level of dependence. Reduction in the usage of cigarettes has been noticed after using NRTs in the student. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to curb the use of tobacco among the sub- groups of population with higher prevalence. Tobacco control policies in India should adopt a targeted, population-based approach to control and reduce tobacco consumption in the country. NRT appears to be an effective and safe approach to smoking cessation, along with behavioural modification and other pharmacologic interventions.

Keywords: Prevalence, dependence, NRT, Fagerstrom test.