title: Trend of smoking among students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences: results from four consecutive surveys from 2006 to 2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Smoking within students community of the medical sciences can negatively impact the attitudesof the society in future. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence and trends of smoking amongstudents of Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in four consecutive years from 2006 to 2009. The study sample was takenfrom the first- to fourth-year, undergraduate and graduate (doctorate) students of Tehran University of MedicalSciences. Census was applied for sampling. Structured questionnaires were distributed to students of each class.The study was anonymous and self-administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2006 to 2009, a total of 1568 to 1761 students participated in the study each year. Over thestudy period, i.e. 2006-2009, the prevalence of cigarette smoking was decreased (the overall prevalence was12.5% in 2006, 12.9% in 2007, 10.8% in 2008, and 10.5% in 2009). The corresponding values for the onemonth prevalence were 8.2%, 7.8%, 6.1%, and 5.8%, while those for the prevalence of daily smoking were3.4%, 4.0%, 2.9%, and 1.8%, respectively. The decreasing trend was particularly more significant for femalestudents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that the prevalence of smoking among students of Tehran University ofMedical Sciences was in the lower end of the spectrum, in comparison to other universities in Iran and othercountries. Additionally, similar to the pattern observed in the developed world, this trend was decreasing, particularlyamong girls. Implementing preventive measures for accelerating the decreasing trend, as well as continuousmonitoring is recommended.
authors.affiliation: MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Department for Mental Health and Substance Use, Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS (IRCHA), Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. dr.m.a.esmaeeli@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amin-Esmaeili
authors.affiliation: MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Department for Mental Health and Substance Use, Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS (IRCHA), Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Tehran, Iran. rahimia@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Afarin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahimi-Movaghar
authors.affiliation: MD, PhD, Professor of Epidemiology, Center for Air Pollution Research, Institute for Environmental Research and School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. yunesian@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Masud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yunesian
authors.affiliation: MD, Psychiatrist, Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS (IRCHA) Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. elahehsizadian@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Elaheh
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sahimi-Izadian
authors.affiliation: MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. moin.drm@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Mahdieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moinolghorabaei
keywords: Epidemiology; Iran; Medical Students; Prevalence; Tobacco