SMOKING AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS AT AFYA PORTO NACIONAL: PREVALENCE, RISK FACTORS, AND HEALTH CONSEQUENCES

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Smoking remains a major public health issue and is associated with several chronic diseases and negative impacts on quality of life. Among medical students, factors such as anxiety, academic stress, and exposure to social environments that encourage tobacco use may contribute to the initiation and maintenance of smoking habits. In this context, the present study aimed to analyze the prevalence of smoking, associated risk factors, and health consequences among medical students at Afya Porto Nacional. This was an observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study conducted through an electronic questionnaire administered to 56 medical students. Sociodemographic variables, patterns of tobacco and electronic cigarette use, smoking cessation attempts, alcohol and other substance use, sleep quality, respiratory symptoms, anxiety, perceived stress, and academic impact were assessed. The results showed a predominance of female participants (67.9%) and individuals aged 17 to 25 years (73.2%). Tobacco experimentation was reported by 67.3% of respondents, while 25.5% reported tobacco use within the last 30 days and 29.1% reported electronic cigarette use during the same period. A high prevalence of anxiety was observed (65.5%), in addition to impaired sleep quality and respiratory symptoms among a considerable proportion of participants. It was concluded that smoking and the use of electronic smoking devices present a relevant prevalence among the evaluated students and are associated with emotional factors and potential negative effects on health and academic performance, highlighting the need for preventive strategies and health promotion actions within the university environment.