Evaluation of knowledge and attitude of Yazd University of Medical Sciences students to cigarette smoking

According to reports, the prevalence of smoking in Iranian students has an increasing trend during the study period. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of Yazd University of Medical Sciences students regarding cigarette smoking. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017.Out of 5400 students at different levels of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in Yazd, 500 students were selected from different faculties through randomized stratified sampling method. The data collection tool was a three-part researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS software. The mean scores of knowledge and attitude towards smoking were 10.43±4.121 and 27.53± 23.79, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the mean score of students' knowledge about smoking and the variables of sex, marital status, educational level, college of education (P-value<.0.05). But there was no significant relationship between economic status, place of residence, and the presence of a smoker in the student's family and the mean score of knowledge (P-value≥0.05). Also, there was a significant relationship between the mean score of attitude of students towards smoking and educational level (P-value<0.05). However, there was no significant relationship between the mean score of students' attitude towards smoking and gender, marital status, faculty of study, economic status, place of residence, and the presence of a smoker in the student's family. Since the knowledge and attitude of students about smoking was not at an acceptable, it is necessary to develop appropriate educational programs at the university level in order to increase knowledge and develop a proper attitude towards smoking