Prevalence of smoking and use of nicotine-containing products among medical students and physicians in CIS countries: a cross-sectional study

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: To implement effective measures to reduce smoking and the use of novel nicotine-containing products among medical students and physicians, objective national-level data on smoking behavior are required.

AIM: This work aimed to assess the prevalence of smoking and use of nicotine-containing products among medical students and primary care physicians in the CIS.

METHODS: A cross-sectional consent-based survey was conducted. An online questionnaire administered via an electronic platform was used to assess the type of products consumed, frequency and duration of use, age of initiation, attempts to quit smoking, exposure to passive smoking, awareness of nicotine-related health risks, and availability of smoking cessation programs.

RESULTS: The study included 9222 students and 1599 physicians from five countries. The prevalence of smoking among students and physicians, respectively, was: Russia 20.3% and 17.1%; Belarus 17.0% and 18.3%; Kyrgyzstan 15.4% and 6.8%; Kazakhstan 8.2% and 12.8%; Uzbekistan 3.2% and 5.9%. Smoking prevalence among women was lower than among men in all countries (p < 0.05), except among students in Belarus (p > 0.05). The prevalence of nicotine-containing product use (including combined use with conventional cigarettes) did not differ between men and women among students in most countries, except in Kyrgyzstan (p < 0.05). The primary risk factors for smoking among students, regardless of country, were smoking by friends and smoking by classmates or dormitory roommates. Among physicians, 3.7%–12.5% of men and 10%–50% of women who reported quitting tobacco continued to use electronic cigarettes. Male physicians were more frequently exposed to passive smoking at work, whereas female physicians were more frequently exposed at home. Attitudes of healthcare professionals toward tobacco products and electronic cigarettes remarkably influenced the likelihood of using specific forms of smoking.

CONCLUSION: This study expands current data on the prevalence of smoking, including passive smoking, as well as on cross-country similarities and differences in smoking behavior and smoking-related risk factors among healthcare professionals.

About the authors

Oksana M. Drapkina

National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine

Email: ODrapkina@gnicpm.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4453-8430
SPIN-code: 4456-1297

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Russian Federation, Moscow

Oleg O. Salagay

Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

Email: SalagayOO@minzdrav.gov.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4501-7514
SPIN-code: 3580-0675

MD, Сand. Sci. (Medicine)

Russian Federation, Moscow

Ruslan N. Shepel

National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine

Email: RShepel@gnicpm.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8984-9056

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine)

Russian Federation, Moscow

Olga Yu. Kuznetsova

North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Email: oukuznetsova@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2440-6959
SPIN-code: 7200-8861

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Ekaterina D. Savchenko

National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine

Email: Savchenkokat@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3540-3331
SPIN-code: 6824-7849

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine)

Moscow

Elena A. Andreeva

Northern State Medical University

Author for correspondence.
Email: klmn.69@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3917-154X
SPIN-code: 3543-4005

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor

Russian Federation, Arkhangelsk

Anna V. Turusheva

North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Email: anna.turusheva@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3347-0984
SPIN-code: 9658-8074

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Marina A. Pokhaznikova

North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Email: Marina.Pokhaznikova@szgmu.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9894-5974
SPIN-code: 3387-0226

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Gulbanu Z. Abdugulova

Asfendiarov Kazakh National Medical University

Email: a.gulbany@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8832-9705

MD

Kazakhstan, Almaty

Akmaral B. Abdykulova

Asfendiarov Kazakh National Medical University

Email: Akmaral_abd@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0330-6764

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Kazakhstan, Almaty

Feruza L. Azizova

Tashkent State Medical University

Email: feruzaziz@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6360-503X

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Uzbekistan, Tashkent

Emil R. Bogdanov

I.K. Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy

Email: emil.hotbox@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-0756-6952
SPIN-code: 2879-2133

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine)

Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek

Nurlan N. Brimkulov

I.K. Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy

Email: brimkulov@list.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7821-7133
SPIN-code: 6931-8988

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek

Denis V. Vinnikov

Аl-Farabi Kazakh National University

Email: denisvinnikov@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0991-6237
SPIN-code: 9909-1930

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Kazakhstan, Almaty

Zhangir D. Tulekov

Аl-Farabi Kazakh National University

Email: d.zhangir@bk.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5020-7179
SPIN-code: 4751-4895

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine)

Kazakhstan, Almaty

Elmira R. Yerenchina

Asfendiarov Kazakh National Medical University

Email: elmira_er@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4318-2946

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor

Kazakhstan, Almaty

Kaldygul Sh. Kushimbayeva

Asfendiarov Kazakh National Medical University

Email: kushimbaeva.k@kaznmu.kz
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-2386-4028

MD

Kazakhstan, Almaty

Azizbek K. Nizamov

Tashkent State Medical University; Almazar District Medical Association

Email: jamoat82@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0006-7149-3801

Ташкентский государственный медицинский университет

 Алмазарское районное медицинское объединение

Uzbekistan, Tashkent; Tashkent

Zhannat M. Nurmakhanova

Asfendiarov Kazakh National Medical University

Email: zhanna12932@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6528-7060

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor

Kazakhstan, Almaty

Ilkhom O. Otajonov

Tashkent State Medical University

Email: ilhom1802@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9318-7294

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor

Uzbekistan, Tashkent

Iryna V. Patsiayuk

Belarusian State Medical University

Email: pat-iv@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2248-642X
SPIN-code: 4912-5644

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor

Belarus, Minsk

Andrey G. Polupanov

I.K. Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy; National Center for Cardiology and Therapy named after Academician Mirsaid Mirrakhimov

Email: polupanov_72@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4621-3939
SPIN-code: 3197-4686

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek; Bishkek

Mikhail Yu. Reutovich

Belarusian State Medical University

Email: mihail_revtovich@yahoo.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7202-6902
SPIN-code: 1738-0528

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor

Belarus, Minsk

Marina M. Sachek

Belarusian State Medical University

Email: msachek@rambler.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-9110-0185
SPIN-code: 9552-0903

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor

Belarus, Minsk

Dilorom A. Umurzakova

Tashkent State Medical University

Email: umurzakova0817@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0009-4477-6189
Uzbekistan, Tashkent

Ilmira R Urazalieva

Tashkent State Medical University

Email: airmeduz@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3668-0437
Uzbekistan, Tashkent

Mirgul B Yrysova

I.K. Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy

Email: yrysovamirgul@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9801-9724
SPIN-code: 5659-2280

Ph.D (Med.),  Assoc. Prof

Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek

Natalia G. Yushitsina

Salidat Kairbekova National Scientific Center for Healthcare Development

Email: n.yushitsina@nrchd.kz
ORCID iD: 0009-0007-0037-3084
SPIN-code: 3324-2650
Kazakhstan, Astana

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