Abstract:
The objective of this survey was to examine public health students' behavior, attitude, school policy, and curriculum in relation to tobacco issues. Subjects were 574 3rd year public health students from 8 schools of public health in Thailand. Data were collected by using the self-administered questionnaire and were then analyzed by descriptive Results showed that 21.4% had smoked in the past with the higher percentage of smokers in male compared to female (47.7% VS. 13.5%). About 2.5% of public health students were current smokers with the higher percentage of smokers in male compared to female (7.2% VS. 1.1%). Regarding the attitudes toward tobacco control, most of the subject agreed that public health officers should be a role model (99.8%) and should give advice or information related to smoking cessation to clients (99.5%). Only 55.3% reported that their school had smoking ban policy in the school and practice setting. Concerning school curriculum, most of subjects indicated that they had been taught about the dangers of tobacco (92.0%). However, those who had learned about the importance of recording clients' smoking behaviors and had recieved any training related to smoking cessation were only 46.5% and 9.8%, respectively). To promote being role model of public health professional, smoking ban policy should be implemented in all schools of public health. Smoking cessation methods should be added in the school curriculum to respond to the need of students in giving advice and about smoking cessation after they graduate.
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