Tobacco and alcohol use among Romanian dental and medical students: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess smoking and alcohol use in Romanian dental and medical students.


METHODS
A total of 185 questionnaires were distributed to male and female dental and medical students (first and sixth year).


RESULTS
Across all groups, 60.86% of the responders have never been smokers, while the prevalence of smoking among the different groups was 28.84% for Year 1 dental students, 53.18% for Year 6 dental students, 39.58% for Year 1 medical students and 36.36% for Year 6 medical students. Unadjusted linear regressions showed significant linear relationships between average number of cigarettes smoked a day and average age when students started smoking (p < 0.05). Of Year 6 dental students, 41.30% have drunk at least once a week, compared with 24% of dental freshmen. The use of alcohol among males was significantly higher than in females (p < 0.0001). Unadjusted linear regressions showed significant linear relationships between frequency of smoking and alcohol consumption (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Both medical and dental students in Romania may benefit from preventive interventions in universities addressing the health risk behaviours of alcohol use and smoking.
Dumitrescu
Alexandrina L
AL
Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, Bucharest, Romania. a_l_dumitrescu@yahoo.co.uk
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires