title: Gender differences in responses towards anti-smoking messages and policy implementation among future doctors in Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical students' views may provide some direction for future policy considerations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess gender differences in future doctors' receptiveness to currently implemented anti-smoking messages and the effectiveness of those messages.
  
  
  METHODS
  We administered a questionnaire to all students at a medical university in Malaysia, asking how frequently they noted anti- smoking policies, anti-smoking campaigns, and anti-smoking messages in schools. In addition, the questionnaire investigated most effective methods to convey these messages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 522 (59.7%) students responded. Students were least likely to approve of total bans on cigarettes and increasing the price of cigarettes, and most likely to approve of bans on use of cigarettes in public places and sales to individuals less than 16 years old. Approval of total bans on cigarettes was more common in female students than in males OR=0.39 (95%CI: 0.18- 0.86). Furthermore, compared to the female students, the male students thought that printed media; OR=2.32 (95%CI: 1.31-4.10), radio; OR=1.93 (95%CI: 1.15-3.22) and the internet; OR=1.96 (95%CI: 1.15-3.33) were very effective at delivering anti-smoking messages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gender differences existed in the future doctors' perception of the effectiveness of anti-smoking initiatives. Taking this gender difference into account may increase the receipt of anti-smoking messages in adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Population Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Technology MARA, Selangor, Malaysia. sitimu.yasin@gmail.com
authors.forename: Siti Munira
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yasin
authors.forename: Nurhuda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: Norizal Mohd
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Noor
authors.forename: Mohd Shafiq
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mohd Azman
authors.forename: Hanisah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taib
authors.forename: Junainah Mat
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jusop
authors.forename: Nur Atirah
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Salaudin
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires