Factors effecting levels of smoking addiction of students attending to the nursing high school

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the levels of cigarette addiction of nursing students and to put forward the factors thereof. In this study, sampling method was not used but, instead, of the 250 students attending the Nursing High School for the academic year 2004-2005, all the smokers (42) were included. During the spring term, data relevant to socio-demographic information and cigarette smoking were collected through Introduction Questionnaire which consisted of 13 questions and Fagerstrom Nicotine Addiction Test which consisted of 6 questions. The information was collected from the participants who have accepted to take part in the study by the researcher following the institution’s consent. The descriptive inputs were numerically analysed using the SPSS 11.0 package programme and chi-square test to compare the variables. 76.2% of the students whose average age was 22.9 (=1,9), were light, 9,5% medium and 14,3% were heavy smokers. The fourth grade students with 38,4% were the heaviest smokers, 57,1% started smoking during their middle school education and 45,2% smoked between 11-20 cigarettes a day. 97,6% thought that smoking was  harmful and 81% have tied to quit smoking and 35,8% stated  that they have started smoking under the influence of their friends. There were no statistically significant and no meaningful differences between the students’ cigarette addiction and their parents’ educational status, smoking within the family, period when they started smoking and their reasons to continue smoking.