research pmch

8/7/2019 Research PMCH

1/27

PMCH: Awareness of the Serious Consequences of

Smoking Cigarettes Among Teenagers Studying in

UPHSD

-Nakul Srivastava

Introduction

Cigarette smoking is a major cause of lung cancer and many other illnesses. At

least one out of five death in American society caused by disease directly related

to cigarette smoking. Although smoking among adolescents and young adults is

often associated as a bad, but temporary habit, determinants of smoking among

college students and the amount of harm it causes to their health and health of

others are largely unknown. Smoking begins primarily during childhood and

adolescence, which extent into their student years . This genre crosses over

different population and becomes a problem of schools and universities.

The differences between subjective feelings of those who smoke and those who

dont are shown in behavioral changes that are more apparent in teens than

adults. Teens seem to be more abrasive when smoking or they feel like they are

older and wiser when they smoke. Why do they smoke when we have seen

billions of dollars spent on antismoking campaigns? The American Lung

Association estimates that every minute four thousand eight hundred teens will

take their first drag off a cigarette. Of those four thousand eight hundred, about

two thousand will go on to be chain smokers. The fact that teen smoking rates are

steadily increasing is disturbing. We are finding out that about 80% of adult

smokers started smoking as teenagers.


2/27

World Statistics on Smoking: WHO

About a third of the male adult global population smokes.

Smoking related-diseases kill one in 10 adults globally, or cause four million

deaths. By 2030, if current trends continue, smoking will kill one in six people.

Every eight seconds, someone dies from tobacco use.

Smoking is on the rise in the developing world but falling in developed nations.

Among Americans, smoking rates shrunk by nearly half in three decades (from the

mid-1960s to mid-1990s), falling to 23% of adults by 1997. In the developing

world, tobacco consumption is rising by 3.4% per year.

About 15 billion cigarettes are sold daily - or 10 million every minute.

About 12 times more British people have died from smoking than from World

War II.

Cigarettes cause more than one in five American deaths.

Among WHO Regions, the Western Pacific Region* - which covers East Asia and

the Pacific - has the highest smoking rate, with nearly two-thirds of men smoking.

About one in three cigarettes are consumed in the Western Pacific Region.

The tobacco market is controlled by just a few corporations - namely American,

British and Japanese multinational conglomerates.

Youth

Among young teens (aged 13 to 15), about one in five smokes worldwide.

Between 80,000 and 100,000 children worldwide start smoking every day -

roughly half of whom live in Asia.

Evidence shows that around 50% of those who start smoking in adolescent years

go on to smoke for 15 to 20 years.


3/27

Peer-reviewed studies show teenagers are heavily influenced by tobacco

advertising.

About a quarter of youth alive in the Western Pacific Region will die from

smoking.

Smoking Statistics In The Republic of Philippines:

About 60% of men smoke.

A recent survey of Filipino adult smokers found 99.8% cited tobacco

advertisements as one factor for initiating smoking.

More than half of Filipino households are not smoke-free.

As many as 40% of adolescents boys smoke; most began in their early teens.

Another 6% were former smokers. The majority of these young smokers said peer

pressure was one reason why they took up smoking. Most now wish they did not

smoke and about two-thirds have tried to give up.

There are no national laws prohibiting minors from buying cigarettes.

About 200,000 Filipino men will develop smoking-related diseases in their

productive years of age. It was estimated in 1999, that to provide healthcare for

these sick men, and the loss in productivity, cost Filipino taxpayers some P43

billion.

Every year, there are about 20,000 smoking-related deaths in the country.

Tobacco use will drain nearly 20% of the household income of smokers' families.

Many vendors of cigarettes are children


4/27

Statement of the Problem :

The knowledge of the college students of the hazardous effects of smoking may

help them influence their habit of smoking in a way that they would think of

quitting it. We, as the future health care providers may later have to work on the

same basic principles in order to aware the people around us of the ill-effects of

smoking on their health.

I would like to check if what percentage of teen smokers are aware of the harmful

consequences that smoking cigarettes would have on their lives.

Objectives:

General Objective:To check if what percentage of teen smokers are well awareof the harmful effects of smoking like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,

Lung Cancer, etc and what percentage is not.

Specific Objectives:

Check the percentage of students who smoke.

Compare the percentage of male and female smokers.

Determine the relative percentage of age when the teenagers start

smoking for the first time.

Determine whether what factors incite the students to smoke for the

first time.

Determine if what percentage of smokers are well aware of the

harmful effects of smoking on health.

Check if what percentage of smokers have tried to quit smoking.

Determine what are the factors that have helped students quit

smoking/ have kept students away from smoking.


5/27

Hypothesis:

That the teenagers are not well aware of the harmful effects of cigarette

smoking when they first try it. They find it as something interesting and give

it a try, only to make most of them addicted to it.

That peer pressure plays a major role in inciting the teenagers to first try

smoking cigarettes. It is that the friends of the teenagers that they are

greatly influenced from, and therefore it plays a major role in the

prevalence of smoking.

Conceptual Framework:

The Study is based on the concept that teenage is the time when many students

try their first hand at smoking. Being unaware, or probably ignoring the risks

which they put themselves into by smoking cigarettes, they first try it with their

peers. The variables age, gender, their peers, family atmosphere all contribute a

child to inherit the habit. These factors will eventually determine if the child

would continue smoking, or try and quit along the way, etc. The concept that

strict parents and strong family ties would give a child less freedom to start or

continue smoking. Another concept is that groups of friends and peers who dont

smoke would further lessen the prevalence of smoking. Awareness of harmful

effects of smoking may be a major determinant in its prevalence. As part of future

health practitioners, we need to understand the ways in which these variables

affect a client and would allow us to plan and deliver individualized care for that

client. We can aware the patient or client about different ways in which they can

shape their health and lifestyle better.


6/27

Definition of terms:

Teenager:

A person between the ages of 13 and 19

Peer Pressure:

Belonging to same group in the society that influences the persons character and

decisions.

Gender

A classification that distinguishes a person on the basis of his/her reproductive

roles. It can be measured using questionnaire and categorized as either male orfemale.

Significance of the study:

This research would conclude whether or not the young teenagers do know the

consequences which could lead them to serious health hazards because of

smoking, so that we could work in order to aware them about it, which could helpthem in trying to quit smoking. We could also explain them means by which they

can quit smoking easily and comfortably. We would also know the effect of the

age, gender, peer pressure as well as the family practices that influence the

children in smoking or quitting cigarettes.

Scope and Limitation:

This research is primarily focused on the college students from UPHSD campus,

and the subjects were randomly chosen. The students researched upon were only

teenagers, so the research for the students of other ages was not done. All the

more, most of the teenagers were in their late teen ages(15-19)


7/27

The research bases itself with 3 different kinds of students:

- Those who presently smoke

- Those who used to smoke before but have quit now

-Those who have never smoked.

Review of Literature:

Study Done By CDC

Teen smoking had been on a sharp decline since the mid-late 1990's, but recent

data shows that the adolescent smoking rates are rising slightly.

According to a 2005 study done by the CDC, 23% of high school students reported

smoking cigarettes in the last month. This is compared with a previous study of

high school students that showed 21.9% in 2003. While this data is somewhat

discouraging it is far better than the 1997 level of the same survey at 36.4%. The

rise appears to be greatest among white and Hispanic teens while the rates of

teen smoking declined among black teens.

There is no concrete evidence at this time to show why the teen smoking

statistics have declined since 1997, but some believe it is in better awareness

efforts. Some also feel that it is due to a decline in media glamorizing smoking.

The CDC study showed that 80% of smokers begin before the age of 18. A similar

study which was published by the American Lung Association website shows 90%

of smokers begin before the age of 21.

A study that was done by the CDC also found some interesting facts and

estimates:

1. About 3,900 teens under 18 start smoking each day.

2. Of the 3,900 teens that start smoking each day - 1500 will become regular

smokers.


8/27

3. Those who smoke often have secondary behavioral issues such as violence,

drug/alcohol use, and high-risk sexual behavior.

Some of the contributing factors of teenage smoking are:

1. Low socioeconomic status

2. Use or approval of smoking by siblings/peers

3. Smoking by parents

4. Availability and price of tobacco

5. Lack of parent support / involvement

6. Lower self-image or self-esteem

Population to be researched :

UPHSD College Students

Methodology:

Simple questionnaires were given to the UPHSD College students from different

courses.

Personal profile

The students personal profile can help to provide some background information

of the respondents. The researcher made it optional for the respondents to

mention their names and courses as answering questions about smoking may be

uncomfortable with some of them.

The questionnaires were given to the College Students of UPHSD


9/27

Response Mode

To answer the questionnaire, the respondents were asked to put a

check the answers on the various questions provided in the

questionnaires, depending on the category which they belonged to.

After all data have been collected, calculation followed, where the

researcher analyzed and interpret the findings.

Conclusions were drawn and recommendations applied based on the

findings of the study.

Data Processing:

The processing of the data provided by the respondents was undertaken by the

researcher. The researcher made use of the simple arithematic calculations using

Percentages in order to provide an easy to understand analysis and interpretation

of the data. Data was organized in tables as provided

Formula Used:

Percentage= (no. of check respondent per category /Total no. of population)X100

Presentation of Data

Budget:

Around 500Php


10/27

Site of Study:

UPHSD Campus, Las Pinas City.

Sample Questionnaire:

This is a research about teenagers into the habit of smoking cigarattes, please

answer the following questions, your personal data would not be revealed.

Name(Optional) :

Age:

Gender:

Course(Optional) :

1. Do you smoke cigarattes?

a. Yes

b. No

If yes, please answer the following questions

2. What age did you first smoke a cigarette?

A-10-12 years

B- 13-14 years


11/27

C- 15-16 years

D-17-18 years

E- 19-20 years

F- Others( Specify-___________________________________)

3. What made you smoke for the first time?

A- You found smoking to be an interesting habit and thought to give it a try

B- Your family members smoke and you were influenced by them

C- Your friends pressured you to start smoking

D- Other reasons (Specify________________________________________)

4. Do you know about the serious consequences(Chronic Obstructive Lung

Disease, Lung Cancer, heart attack and many many more) which could result

because of smoking?

A- Yes I do know about them very well

B- I know about some of them

C- I have heard about it from elders

D- Not really

E- No I dont

5. Have you ever thought anything about the citations like Smoking is

injurious to health or Smoking Kills printed on the cigarette packs?

A-Really? Do they mention that?


12/27

B- No I dont

C- Yes sometimes

D-Yes I do, quite often

6. Have you ever tried to quit smoking?

A-Yes

B- No

If your answer for the first question was No, please answer the following

questions :

I. Did you ever try smoking at least once?

A-Yes I did

B- No I have never tried

If yes, please answer the following questions

II. What age did you first smoke a cigarette?

A. 10-12 years

B. 13-14 years


13/27

C. 15-16 years

D.17-18 years

E. 19-20 years

F. Others( Specify-___________________________________)

III. What made you smoke for the first time?

A-You found smoking to be an interesting habit and thought to give it a

try

B- Your family members smoke and you were influenced by them

C- Your friends pressured you to start smoking

D-Other reasons(Specify - ____________________________________)

IV. Why did you stop smoking?

A- I just didnt ever like it

B- I smoked for a while, but stopped because my parents came to know

about it.

C- I saw my friends being addicted to it, and I didnt want to be one of

them.

D- I came to know about the serious consequences which could happen to

me.

E- Other Reasons(Specify ____________________________________)


14/27

V. Do you know about the serious consequences (COPD, Lung Cancer,

heart attack and many many more) which could result because of

smoking?

A- Yes I do know about them very well

B- I know about some of them

C- I have heard about it from elders

D- Not really

E- No I dont

VI. Have you ever thought anything about the citations like Smoking is

injurious to health or Smoking Kills printed on the cigarette packs?

A-Really? Do they mention that?

B- No I dont

C- Yes sometimes

D-Yes I do, quite often


15/27

If your answer to question I was B, please answer the following

1. Why didnt you ever try smoking?

A-None of my friends smoke, so I was never pressured by anyone to try

it.

B- I just didnt like the smell of the smoke when others around me used

to smoke

C- My parents are just too strict, they would kill me if they ever came to

know that I smoked even once.

D- Im aware of the serious consequences which could happen to me if I

smoked.

E- Others (Specify-________________________________________)

2.

Would you want to give smoking cigarettes a try?A-Yes

B- No

3. If yes, why would you like to give it a try?

A- You find smoking to be an interesting habit and want to give it a try

B- Your family members smoke and you are influenced by them

C- Your friends pressure you to start smoking


16/27

D-Other reasons ( Specify - __________________________________)

Table 1

Total No. of Respondents 40

No. of male Respondents 13

No. of female Respondents 27

Table 2

No. of Respondents Percentage of

Respondents

Those who currently

smoke cigarettes

11 27.5%

Those who do not

currently smoke

29 72.5%

Male respondents who

smoke currently

5 38.46%

Male respondents who

do not smoke currently

8 61.54%

Female respondents who

smoke currently

6 22.22%

Female respondents who

do not smoke currently

21 77.78%

Analysis:


17/27

Table 2 clearly shows that there are less teenagers who are currently smoking

cigarettes(27.5%) as compared with the non smokers (72.5%).

It also shows us that the percentage of male smokers(38.46%) more than that of

their female counterparts(22.22%)

Note: No. of Respondents who have quit smoking = 7

Therefore, No. of Respondents who have smoked at least once in their

lifetime(Including those who currently smoke as well as who have quit) = 11+7 =18

Table 3

Ages at which the

respondents first started

smoking

No. of respondents Percentage

10- 12 years 2 11.11%

13-14 years 2 11.11%

15-16 years 11 61.1%

17-18 years 2 11.11%

Others 1 5.56%

Analysis:


18/27

Table 3 here points us to the age group where teenagers start their habit of

smoking for the first time. The age clearly predominant is 15-16 years of age.

Table 4

Factors that incited the

respondents to smoke

for the first time

No. of Respondents Percentage

Found smoking as an

interesting habit and

wanted to give it a try

9 50%

Family members smoke

so they were influenced

by them

2 11.11%

The friends pressured

them to smoke

7 38.89%

Analysis: Table 4 here points us towards the greatest culprit in inciting the

teenagers to smoke for the first time, which obviously is that they find it an

interesting habit, which would make their personality better. The second factor

almost as same responsible is the peer pressure that the children fall into.

Table 5


19/27

If the smokers are aware

about the serious

consequences(COPD,

Lung Cancer, Heart

Attack) of smoking


Yes, Very Well 12 66.67%

Know about some of

them

3 16.67%

Heard about it from

Elders

3 16.67%

Table 6

Have the smokers

thought anything about

the citation Smoking is

Injurious to health or

Smoking Kills Printed

on Cigarette Packs


Really? Do they mention

that?

2 11.11%

No, I dont 2 11.11%

Yes Sometimes 6 33.33%

Yes I do, quite often 8 44.44%


20/27

Analysis:

Tables 4 and 5 show us that the majority of them(66.67%) are well aware of the

various serious consequences of smoking, as well as most of them(44.44%) do

read about smoking being injurious to health on the cigarette packs and think

about it.

Table 7

If present smokers havetried quitting smoking


Yes 7 63.63%

No 4 36.36%

Analysis: Most present smokers have tried quitting cigarette smoking before, but

somehow started smoking again.

Table 8

Why did the past

smokers quit?

No. of Respondents Percentage of

Respondents

Just didnt ever like it 5 71.42%

Saw my friends being

addicted to it, I didnt

want to be one of them

1 14.28%

Came to know about the 1 14.28%


21/27

serious consequences

which could result

because of smoking

Analysis:

While analyzing the table 8, we find that most smokers(71.42%) who have quit,

did so because they were never comfortable with it.

Table 9

Why didnt you ever

tried smoking?


None of my friends

smoke, so I was never

pressured by anyone to

try it.

3 13.63%

I just didnt like the smell

when others around me

used to smoke

3 13.63%

My parents are just too

strict, they would kill me

if they ever came to know

that I smoked even once

5 22.72%

Im aware of the serious

consequences which

11 50%


22/27

could happen to me if I

smoke

Analysis:

Table 9 clearly points us that the teenagers who never smoked, did so because

the majority of them were aware of the serious consequences which would

happen to them if they smoke. The second factor which kept them from smoking

was their strict parents(22.72%).

Table 10

Want to give smoking

cigarettes a try?


Yes 0 0%

No 22 100%

Easy to say that if the students did not try smoking during their teenage life,

would have a far lesser chance of taking up the habit later in their lives.

Summary:

Based on the above results, we can summarize the facts that the teenagers who

smoke are well aware of the serious consequences that they put themselves into

when they start smoking. They do know that smoking is indeed injurious to their

health. The other fact to be noticed is that those teenagers who do not smoke in

the first place do so because of the fact that they are aware of the health risks


23/27

associated with cigarette smoking. Point also to be noted is that most teenagers

smoke for the first time during the age 15-16 years.

Conclusion:

Following Conclusions were drawn :

y The percentage of students who currently smoke = 27.5%

y The percentage of male smokers = 38.46%

y Percentage of female smokers = 22.22%

y

Relative percentages of age when they start smoking for the first time10- 12 years = 11.11%

13-14 years = 11.11%

15-16 years = 61.1%

17-18 years = 11.11%

Others = 5.56%

y Factors that incite students to smoke for the first time

Found smoking as an interesting habit and wanted to give it a try = 50%

Family members smoke = 11.11%

The friends pressured them to smoke = 38.89%

y Percentage of smokers well aware of harmful effects of smoking on health

Yes, Very Well = 66.67%

Know about some of them = 16.67%

Heard about it from Elders = 16.67%


24/27

y Percentage of smokers who have tried to quit smoking

o Yes= 63.63%

o No = 36.36%

y What are the factors that have kept students away from smoking

None of my friends smoke, so I was never pressured by anyone to try it

= 13.63%

I just didnt like the smell when others around me used to smoke = 13.63%

My parents are just too strict, they would kill me if they ever came to know

that I smoked even once = 22.72%

Im aware of the serious consequences which could happen to me if I

smoke = 50%

We may now conclude that our hypothesis that the teenagers who smoke are not

well aware of the various serious consequences from cigarette smoking may not

hold completely true. The responses of both smoker and non-smoker college

students show us that many infact are aware of the health risks with cigarette

smoking. We learn the fact that even though the teenagers are well aware of the

serious consequences of smoking, they still smoke, leading us to believe that they

really are addicted to it.

Based on the results, we can also conclude that it is the awareness among the

students of the fact that there are various health risks because of smoking that

many of the teenagers do not try it at all. It is also safe to conclude that if the

students did not try smoking during their teenage life(especially 15-16 years of

age), their chances of smoking later in their life are reduced.


25/27

The factors inciting the teenagers to smoke for the first time is the curiosity, that

they find it something interesting, and the fact that their peers pressure them to

smoke.

Recommendations:

We, being future health care professionals, should be well aware of the risks of

smoking on the health of people. Smoking is one of those habits, which once

modified could bring dramatic changes in the life of people. The most important

fact of the research is that smoking starts in young teenage life. therefore,

bringing awareness among teenagers regarding smoking, and its hazards,

explaining and providing them means to quit cigarette smoking easily, would

bring about great benefits and help them live a longer and a healthier life. The

long term sequelae of smoking include life threatening diseases like COPD, Lung

Cancer, Heart Attacks, Emphysema, etc. which can be modified, if people can

appreciate quitting smoking. The best method would be prevention, we would

recommend educating teenagers about how to avoid cigarette smoking and

means to quit in case they are smoking it.


26/27


27/27

research pmch

Documents