Tobacco use among pharmacy students: An international survey

The patterns of tobacco use among health professionals, and students studying to become health professionals, are an area of ongoing research interest. Pharmacy students who attended the 50th International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation World Congress were surveyed about their tobacco use, the policies of the students' associations they represented, and training they receive to provide advice about smoking cessation. In total 147 out of 210 students from 30 countries completed the survey. About 16% reported past or present tobacco use, 10% that their local students' association had a policy that all social events are tobacco-free and 49% that their pharmacy course included material related to smoking cessation. Tobacco use among the pharmacy students was lower than literature reports of smoking rates among other groups of health professionals. However, pharmacy students' associations could be more proactive toward holding tobacco-free social events and in advocating for undergraduate education to include training to provide smoking cessation services.