The use of tobacco among undergraduate students of nursing at Universidade do estado do Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The research analyzes smoking habits among undergraduate nursing students at Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro and aims to identify the factors that stimulate tobacco use and verify the incidence among these students. A descriptive quantitative study investigated 213 students between April and December 2004, applying a questionnaire. The results demonstrated that 42% of the students had tried smoking once, but most of them (73%) did not continue tobacco use. 65% of those who continued (26%) started when they were between 16 and 20 years old and 53% developed the habit out of curiosity and desire to smoke.