THE PREVALENCE OF SMOKING HABITS, EXPOSURE, ATTITUDES, BEHAVIOR AND CURRICULUM TRAINING AMONG THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSION STUDENTS - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Healthcare providers have been the major focus for smoking cessation as well as they are in ideal position to educate and advice patients about the negative impact of smoking and serve as behavioural models for the citizens. Therefore, smoking cessation interventions have been shown to be effective when delivered by health profession groups and in increasing the rate of tobacco cessation. The perceptions and attitudes towards the tobacco control by the health profession students determine the capability of delivering the interventions is effective in smoking patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of smoking habits, exposure, attitudes, behaviour and curriculum training among the healthcare profession students in Asia Metropolitan University. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among healthcare profession students in Asia Metropolitan University. One hundred and ninety seven participants were selected to participate in the study from four faculties: Faculty of Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Science and Foundation in Health Science. Data was collected using self-administered GHPSS questionnaires. Descriptive statistics was used to report the study variables. Results: A total of 197 participants completed the questionnaire. Prevalence of current smokers was 9.5%. Majority of the participants (86.3%) had a positive attitude towards smoking cessation intervention. Additionally, only (51%) indicated that they had received specific training in smoking cessation techniques during the curriculum at the university. The curriculum within the health profession students at the university emphasizes the need for cessation and prevention of smoking. Conclusion: Healthcare providers have inadequate training towards smoking cessation intervention. Hence, there is an important focus that needs to be highlighted on education modules and smoking cessation training to be incorporated in curriculum preparation. Recommendation: There is a crucial part that needs to be focused on addressing the tobacco cessation concerns, by improvising the healthcare providers? knowledge, attitudes, practice, and confidence levels in tobacco cessation interventions through implementation of appropriate services for training the health profession students.