Evaluation of the limited participation by university students in a smoking cessation program.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the limited participation by university students in a smoking cessation program.


METHODS
A cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted at the University of Caxias do Sul, located in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, involving students who enrolled in a smoking cessation program, together with those who did not.


RESULTS
Of the 108 student who did not enroll in the program, 102 (94.4%) stated that they had no intention to quit smoking (95% confidence interval: 88.29-97.93%. Comparisons between the enrolled and nonenrolled students revealed the following statistical differences: in mean age (35 vs. 23 years, p < 0.01); mean duration of the smoking habit (19.42 vs. 7.36 years, p < 0.01); considering oneself addicted (100% vs. 58.5%, p = 0.047); believing oneself able to stop smoking at any time (7.1% vs. 22.6%, p = 0.02); having no knowledge of any reasons to quit smoking (37.5% vs. 12%, p = 0.03); having suffered discrimination (42.9% vs. 9.3%, p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Among the university students evaluated, there was a phase, classified as precontemplative or contemplative, during which they were refractory to smoking cessation. Although all of the students were aware of the diseases caused by smoking, 41.5% did not consider themselves addicted. The concept of substance dependence does not apply to these students. It would seem more appropriate to define nicotine dependence as resulting from the lifetime consumption of at least 100 cigarettes. These students do not perceive that they are passing through the initial phase of the natural history of tobacco use disorder and do not realize that they are increasing their risk of presenting smoking-related diseases in the future.
Spiandorello
Wilson Paloschi
WP
University of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil. wilsonsp@terra.com.br
Filippini
Liliana Zugno
LZ
Dal Pizzol
Angélica
A
Kreische
Fernanda
F
Soligo
Diogo Sandri
DS
Spiandorello
Tiago
T
Boff
Raquel
R
Michele
Mauricio
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*