BACKGROUND: This study examined cigarette smoking among a sample of medical college students in Wuhan, People's Republic of China. Specific cultural factors associated with cigarette smoking in China were discussed and issues which need to be studied in the future are presented. METHODS: A self-administrated questionnaire was administered to a sample of 1,611 medical students in 1995. Smoking status was based on self-reported use of cigarettes within the preceding 180 days. Information about demographic characteristics, home residence, annual family income, and smoking status of family members was also obtained. RESULTS: A total of 1,540 (1,201 males and 339 females) completed and returned the questionnaires (response rate 95.6%). None of the 339 female students surveyed reported cigarette smoking. A total of 37.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 35.0-40.5%) of the male medical students were current smokers, and 5. 3% (95% CI = 4.0-6.6%) were former smokers. The mean age of beginning to smoke was 16.5 years (95% CI = 8.7-24.3 years). The major reasons for first smoking were stress (42.8%, 95% CI = 38.2-47. 4%), curiosity (34.4%, 95% CI = 29.6-38.4%), and loneliness (33.7%, 95% CI = 28.7-37.4%). Multivariate analyses suggested that age, college year, and having a family member who smoked were significantly associated with cigarette smoking. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated a need to provide comprehensive tobacco use prevention programs among medical students. Copyright 1999 American Health Foundation and Academic Press.
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