Social environment and tobacco smoking among Polish medical students

The aim of this study was to assess the social and environmental factors associated with smoking among Polish medical students and their level of knowledge about the effects of tobacco on health. The study group consisted of 326 women and 256 men, and there were 117 smokers (20%). Of the smokers, 84% reported that at least one of their parents smoked; among the non-smokers, this percentage was 68% (p = 0.008). The main reasons for smoking reported by smokers were pleasure, soothing effect, social pressure and activity for the hands. Knowledge of the hazards of tobacco smoking in our group of students did not differ between smokers and non-smokers. Many students realized that smoking increases mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, but there remained a great number of lacunae about the other consequences of smoking.