Objectives : This study was performed to understand smoking condition and to investigate the relations among knowledge regarding smoking and oral hygiene, awareness of anti-smoking policy, and self-esteem, to provide fundamental basis, developing programs for smoking prevention and anti-smoking.
Methods : From September 7, 2010 to September 16, 2010, questionaire survey was conducted for 566 female university students studying dental hygienics at a local district in Jeollanam-do. Collected data was analyzed by Chi-square test, t-test, one way ANOVA, Scheffe multiple range test, Perason’s correlation test, and stepwise multiple regression test.
Results : 1. Smoking condition of study subjects on general characteristics showed 17.1%, where 14.0% of previous smoking history, and 68.9% of currently nonsmoker. 2. Analysis on the knowledge related to smoking and oral hygiene, awareness of anti-smoking policy, and self esteem on the general characteristics of study subjects have shown better awareness of anti-smoking policy in non-alcoholics. Significant difference was found in knowledge about smoking and awareness of anti-smoking policy according to current resident status, but no difference found in self-esteem. Higher academic grade was related to higher awareness of anti-smoking policy and better ics. aalcell. Better health, but no diffeoral hygiene were related to better awareness of anti-smoking policy, and bewhich were statistically significant. Favorable interpersonal self-estehip was related to better awareness of anti-smoking policy. 3. Analysis on knowledge regarding smoking related health and oral hygiene, awareness of anti-smoking policy, and self-esteem showed higher level of anti-smoking knowledge in non-smoking group(60.44) compared to currently smoking group or group with previous history of smoking, and better awareness of anti-smoking policy in non-smoking group(53.54) than other groups, which was statistically significant.
4. Correlation analysis among smoking related knowledge, awareness of anti-smoking policy, and self-esteem has found relatively high correlation between smoking related knowledge and awareness of anti-smoking policy,which was statistically significant(r=0.481, p<0.001). 5. Among factors influencing awareness of anti-smoking policy, higher level of smoking related knowledge and satisfaction to specialty was related to higher awareness of anti-smoking policy which was lower in current smoker than past smoker, and higher academic grade was related to higher awareness of anti-smoking policy.
Conclusions : Following results emphasize the need to establish a novel curriculum by which effective programs for smoking prevention and education of anti-smoking specialist could be provided as well as promoting coaching anti-smoking activity.