Assessment of Habits of Tobacco Use among Dental and Nondental Students of Indian Population: A Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Tobacco usage can be equated to an unending progressive pandemic which continues to spread globally at an alarming unhindered pace. Dental surgeons have a key role in initiating reduction and even cessation of tobacco habits. Hence, the present study was undertaken for analyzing the habits of tobacco use among dental and nondental students of Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 500 dental students and 500 nondental students were enrolled in the present study. Among dental students, only interns were enrolled across different dental colleges of India. A questionnaire was framed and was sent to all the students in the form of Google Forms. The questionnaire contained questions pertaining to the assessment of prevalence of tobacco use and type of tobacco use habit. All the results were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Five hundred dental students and 500 nondental students were enrolled. Among the dental group, tobacco use habits were present in 23.8% of the students, whereas in the nondental group, tobacco use habits were present in 43.6% of the students. While comparing the prevalence of tobacco use habits among the dental and nondental groups, significant results were obtained. In the dental group, smoking habit and chewing habit were present in 44.54% and 32.77% of the students, respectively. In the nondental group, smoking habit and chewing habit were present in 52.29% and 29.82% of the students, respectively. While comparing the pattern of tobacco use among students of the two study groups, nonsignificant results were obtained. CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need of tobacco cessation programs in the community to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with it.