Abstract
Aim: Monitoring data about smoking among health profession students is important to be able to maintain and improve students health condition. Besides, health profession labour may be role models for society and therefore, data monitoring is essential to be successful in the campaign against smoking. In addition to these reasons, high problem-solving skills and internal locus of control instead of external may be favourable features for health profession students. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate smoking related data, perceptions of problem solving skills and internal-external locus of control, the relations between these parameters among 1st and 3rd year students of Medical, Nursing and Social Work Departments of Duzce University within the 2012-2013 academic year period.
Material and Methods: A questionnaire matching Global Health Profession Student Survey (GHPSS) 2008, Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale (RIELCS) and Problem Solving Inventory (PSI) were used in this study. This was a descriptive study. There was no sample selection, all of the research universe was included in the study. Appropriate statistical tests were used for data analyzes.
Results: The prevalence of current users of cigarette (having used cigarette at least once in last 30 days preceding the survey) was 28%, 45.9% in male and 17.5% in female. There was no statistically significant difference in total score of PSI and RIELCS score between different departments, classes and gender (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between smokers and nonsmokers in RIELCS score and total score of PSI (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The prevalence of smoking in health profession students was found to be similar to that of the society. There was no significant relationship between smoking and the scores of PSI and RIELCS.