1.0 TERMS OF RERENCES

Smoking is one the most growing global problem that happened in the world. Me, Muhammad Ariff Effendy Bin Rozine with my group members Ahmad ‘Arif Bin Zulkepli, Mohd Asrar Bin Basri and Mohd Rafiq Bin Mohd Yusof from the Faculty of Civil Engineering has been given a task to investigate about the awareness of university students regarding smoking. Our respondents are 30 UiTM students from the Faculty of Civil Engineering itself and we wanted to know the prevalence and factors influencing the onset of cigarette smoking among Civil Engineering students in UiTM Shah Alam.

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2.0 INTRODUCTION

This section discusses:

2.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of chemicals produced by burning tobacco and the additives. The cigarette contains tar, which has more than 4,000 chemicals which known can cause health problems. Doll et al. (1994) stated that cigarette contains nicotine and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, both combined brings to addictive stimulant. According to the AmericanCancer Society (2007) and United States (US) Surgeon General (2004), cigarette intake causes fatal diseases such as chronic obstructive lung disease (emphysema and chronic bronchitis), lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, bladder cancer, upper respiratory tract cancers and pancreatic cancer. Cigarette addictive has shorten their live about one-half of all lifetime. The International Union against Tuberculosis and lung disease (2008) reported 70 million deaths because of tobacco between 1950 and 2000. There are known that 1.1 billion smokers in the world. It is estimated that over the next fifty years, 450 million may die because of tobacco use.

Today, smoking issues is heated up among different segments of our society. Smoking prevalence around the world has been increasing tremendously. This has been a critical issue in developing countries including in Malaysian. The Collaborative Funding Program for Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Research (2009) suggested that identifying subgroups of youth who at risk to develop nicotine habit is an important step forward in preventing smoking initiation and controlling tobacco use.

There is a lack of population based data on cigarette use in Malaysia. In University Technology MARA, Shah Alam, it seem to be a prevalence in the numbers of students who smoking. More fall short of is that, there are no data showing the cigarette smoking habits among the students. Given the situation, it is high time that we must get the population based data about cigarette smoking habits among university student. So a detailed study about the cigarette smoking habits among students in Faculty of Civil Engineering in University Technology of MARA must be conducted.

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2.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

Cigarettes’ smoking is a growing public health problem in the developing world. The health hazards of smoking are well documented, and prevention of smoking has been described as the single greatest opportunity for preventing no communicable disease in the world today. A survey study by the World Health Organization on smoking habits revealed that of 89 males, 32 males (36%) and 36 females 9 (25%) were current light smokers. Over 39% of all smokers consumed more than 10 cigarettes a day rated as heavy smokers. The largest group of male and female smokers was influenced to start smoking by relative influence of one or both parents, siblings or friends, and only 18.7% of males and 22.2% of females were influenced by advertisements

Little is known about smoking behavior, awareness of health hazards and initiation of smoking among students from this part of the country. We therefore decided to carry out a cross-sectional survey on the prevalence and factors influencing the onset of cigarette smoking among Civil Engineering students in UiTM Shah Alam.

2.3 PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Given the uprising numbers of smokers in the country and widely expand among young,there may be a corresponding increase in the numbers of smokers among students in UiTM Shah Alam.

In response to this particular problem, a special research committee was set up recently to investigate this issue further. The purpose of the study described in this research report was to study the smoking habits among UiTM students in conjunction with the smoking pattern and provide awareness about the consequence of smoking. Therefore the objectives of the study are:

a. To examine the factors that lead to a smoking among student in UiTM Shah Alam.

b. To identify the smoking trend among student in UiTM Shah Alam.c. To provide awareness about the consequence of smoking.

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2.4 RESEARCH QUESTION

The study seeks to answer the following research questions;

Objective 1

To examine the factors that lead to a smoking among student in UiTM Shah Alam.

Research Question 1

How do they get influence to start smoking?

Objective 2

To identify the smoking trend among student in UiTM Shah Alam.

Research Question 2

Which is more, male or female smoker?

Objective 3

To provides awareness about the consequences of smoking.

Research Question 3

Did they know what the effect of smoking is?

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2.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Although currently there is no concrete data showing there are an increasing in the number of smokers among students in UiTM Shah Alam, the finding of this study are important to help the UiTM administration to find out the smoking pattern and to investigate the public’s level of awareness about the consequence of smoking. With the information at hand, corresponding action could be taken and more extensive studies could be planned for the future.

2.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shah Alam (city of Selangor) inMalaysia, from 17-24th October 2011. This study was carried out on 30 students ofthe University Technology of MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam only emphasis to students in Faculty of Civil Engineering. The respondents, who were between the ages of 18 and 27 years old, were randomly selected by the research team themselves. The data collected via questionnaires were distributed using survey method.

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3.0 METHODOLOGY

This section discusses the methodology of the research. The main purpose of the research is to investigate the cigarette smoking habits among students in Faculty of Civil Engineering. To asses and evaluate the cigarette smoking habits among the students, the main campus of University Technology of MARA situated in Shah Alam with 20,000 students’ population was chosen. The research data were collected through questionnaire which encompasses the instrument of the study, Respondents of the study, Data collection procedure and Data Analysis.

3.1 INSTRUMENT OF THE STUDY

This research utilized the quantitative research methodology. The instrument use to collect the data was questionnaire. A set of questionnaire containing 19 questions divides into 3 sections were developed based on a questionnaire used previously by another study (F.Salawu, A.Danburam, B. Isa & J. Agbo, 2010). Different question-types, such as ranking, yes-no, listing, category and scales were used in the questionnaire. The different sections of the questionnaire were: 1) demographic information, 2) smoking habits and3)awareness on danger of smoking. The questionnaire was piloted to a group of 20 students to assess its validity before it was distributed.

3.2 RESPONDENTS OF THE STUDY

The respondents of the study were from first to fourth year undergraduates from Faculty of Civil Engineering at University Technology of MARA. In October 2011, a total of 30 questionnaire were distributed to students at Faculty of Civil Engineering of the university. A total of 30 students from the faculty returned the questionnaire. Of these number, 20 were male students while the rest 10 were female.

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3.3 DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE

Before the actual data collection period, a pilot study was conducted to assess the validity of the research instrument. A total 10 students were involved in the pilot study chosen at random at various places of the faculty.

During the actual study, the questionnaires were distributed at various locations at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, such as the entrance to the main library, the staircase and several cafeterias. Respondents were approached with an initial question of whether they are students of faculty of Civil Engineering, before the questionnaire was given to them.

3.4 DATA ANALYSIS

To analyse the data, a total of three variables were taken into consideration namely gender, distance from family members and affordability. Data were entered into the computer using SPSS software. Results were presented through frequency counts and other descriptive statistics.

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4.0 FINDINGS / ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

This section discusses the results of the research on smoking habits among UiTM Shah Alam’s students. The findings will be divided into important topics found from a survey received from 30 students of Faculty of Civil Engineering, UiTM Shah Alam.

4.1 DEMOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND OF RESPONDENTS.

Out of 30 students surveyed, there were 20 males and 10 females as shown on figure 4.1.0.

MALE20

FEMALE10

GENDER OF RESPONDENTS

Figure 4.1.0: Gender of Respndent

Figure 4.1.2 shows that most of the students surveyed are aged around 21-23 years old that is 87%. Others are 18-20 years old.

13%

87%

AGE OF RESPONDANTS

18-20 YEARS OLD21-23 YEARS OLD24-27 YEARS OLD

Figure 4.1.2: Age of Respondent

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Among the students, 17% of them stay in the hostel, 77% of them rent houses in Shah Alam and others stay with their family.

17%

77%

7%

PLACE OF RESIDENCE

HOSTELRENTAL HOUSESTAY WITH FAMILYOWN HOUSE

Figure 4.1.3: Place of Residence

There 17 students who receives loan and 11 students got their sources of study from their parents. The others are under scholarship as shown in the figure below.

7%

57%

37%

SOURCES OF STUDY FINANCE / FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

SCHOLARSHIPLOANPARENTAL ASSISTANCE

Figure 4.1.4: Sources of Study Finance

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4.2 SMOKING HABIT

Section 1: Types of Smokers

According to figure 3.2.1, out of 30 students there are 22 students who are still smoking. However 55% of them are heavy smokers and the rest are light smokers as shown in figure 3.2.2. Among them, 70% of the students tried quitting smoking and the others did not. We also found out from the pie chart in figure 3.2.4 that most of the students smoke 1-5 cigarettes a day and also most of the students have been smoking for 1-5 years.

22

8

STILL SMOKE

YESNO

Figure 4.2.1: Does the Student Is Still Smoking?

55%

45%

HEAVY SMOKER OR NOT

HEAVY SMOKERLIGHT SMOKER

Figure 4.2.2: Does the Student Considered Himself as a Heavy Smoker?

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70%

30%

TRY TO QUIT

TRYNOT TRY

Figure 4.2.3: Have the Student Tried to Quit Smoking?

45%

23%

32%

AMOUNT OF CIGARETTES PER DAY

1 - 5 CIGARETTES6 - 10 CIGARETTES>10 CIGARETTES

Figure 4.2.4: How Many Cigarettes Does the Student Smoke per Day?

18%

55%

27%

LENGTH OF SMOKING

1 - 12 MONTHS1 - 5 YEARS>5 YEARS

Figure 4.2.5: How Many Years Have the Students Been Smoking

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Section 2: Reasons of Smoking

Out of 30 students, 20 students got their first source of cigarettes from their friends, 3 students got it from their siblings. The others got from their parents and by stalking as shown in figure below.

70%

13%

7%10%

FIRST SOURCES OF CIGARETTES

FRIENDSSIBLINGSPARENTSSTALK

Figure 4.2.6: First Source of Cigarettes

We found out that most of the students believe the price range for a packet of cigarette is expensive that is 45%. However 39% of them think it is reasonable and the other think it is cheap as shown in figure 4.2.7.

45%

39%

16%

PRICE RANGE OF CIGARETTES

EXPENSIVEREASONABLECHEAP

Figure 4.2.7: Price Range of Cigarettes

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The most popular reasons for smoking among students in UiTM Shah Alam are to reduce stress that is 12 students. Followed by 9 students choose friends as their reasons for smoking. The others choose cigarettes adverts, parent’s smokers and other reasons for example to show off as their reasons for smoking that is 4, 1 and 1 students respectively.

34%

3%14%

45%

3%REASONS FOR SMOKING

FRIENDPARENTCIGARETTE ADVERTREDUCE STRESSOTHERS

Figure 4.2.8: Reasons for Smoking

It also shows that 10 students believe stress is the reason why other people smoke. 8 of them believe it is because of social acceptance. 5 students believe it is because of pleasure and the others believe peer group is the main reason.

30%

33%

17%

20%

FACTORS EFFECTING STUDENTS SMOKE

SOCIAL ACCEPTANCESTRESSPEER GROUPPLEASUREADVERTISEMENT

Figure 4.2.9: Why People Smoke

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Among 30 students, 13 students think healthiness is the reason why they stop smoking. 3 of them think because of religion. However 2 students think because of parents and because of finance. Others think it is because of all of them that are healthiness, parents, finance and religion.

HEALTH

RELIGIO

N

PARENT

FINANCE

ALL OF A

BOVE

OTHER

01020

REASON FOR STOP SMOKING

ANSWER

NO

. OF

RESP

ON

DAN

T

Figure 4.2.10: Reasons For Stop Smoking

4.3 AWARENESS ON DANGER OF SMOKING

Most of the students aware that smoking is dangerous as shown in figure 4.3.1.

YES NO0

5

10

15

20

25

30

AWARENESS ON DANGER OF SMOKING

NO

OF

RESP

ON

DAN

T

Figure 4.3.1: Awareness on Danger of Smoking

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67% students think that healthiness will be the disadvantageous of smoking. 10% of them think social stigma and the others think finance is the disadvantageous as shown in figure below.

23%

10%

67%

THE MOST DISADVANTAGEOUS ASPECT

FINANCESOCIAL STIGMAHEALTH

Figure 4.3.2: The Most Disadvantageous Aspect

10 students know that cancer of lung is the risk of smoking. 9 of them think heart attack will be the risk of smoking. However 7 of them think respiratory disease and the others think hypertension and affection to small babies is the risk of smoking.

HEART A

TTACK

HYPER

TENSIO

N

RESPIRATO

RY DISE

ASE

SMALL

BABY

LUNG CANCER

DELAYE

D WOUND HEA

LING

02468

1012

RISK OF SMOKING

NO

. OF

RESP

ON

DAN

T

Figure 4.3.3: Risk of Smoking

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Figure below shows that out of 30 students, 9 of them think to discourage smoking government should increase the price of cigarettes. However 7 of them think to ban the sales of cigarettes. 6 of them thinks government should restrict smoking in public places others think ban cigarettes adverts and write adverse effect of smoking on cigarette packets that is 2 and 5 students respectively.

INCREASE PRICE OF CIGARETTE

RESTRICT SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON CIGARETTE PACKET

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

STEPS TO DISCOURAGE SMOKING

NO OF RESPONDANT

Figure 4.3.4: Steps to Discourage Smoking

11 students think television should be the source of information on smoking danger. 8 of them think of using posters. 5 of them think by giving health education. And 2 of them think radio and newspaper should be used.

17%

27%

7%

40%

7%3%

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DANGERS OF SMOK-ING

HEALTH EDUCATIONPOSTERSRADIOTELEVISIONNEWSPAPEROTHER

Figure 4.3.5: Information about the Dangers of Smoking

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5.0 CONCLUSION

This research investigates the smoking habits among UiTM Shah Alam students. Primary data were collected by randomly distributed questionnaires to 30 students. As mentioned earlier in the introduction, the purpose of this study was to study the smoking habits among UiTM students in conjunction with the smoking pattern and provide awareness about the consequence of smoking.

The following conclusions can be drawn from the study:

(a) Despite the fact that smoking has become a phenomenon among teenagers, analyses of results revealed that most of the students are heavy smokers and most of them actually tried to quit smoke. This is due to their awareness towards the danger of smoking.

(b) Most of the students smoke 1-5 cigarettes per day and most of them have been smoking for 1-5 years. This shows why it is hard for them to quit smoke even though they tried.

(c) Friends are considered the most influential persons in life and it is proved by the survey where most of the students consider friends as their first source of cigarettes. This is due to the reasonable price of cigarettes stated by them in the survey thus it is not hard for them to share cigarettes with each other.

(d) Life as students can be so stressful due to the assignments and exam thus most of the students believed that they smoke because to release stress and they also believed that other people smoke because of stress.

(e) As students with abilities to think rationally, it is found that many of them realized that it is dangerous to smoke. They know what are the risks and the disadvantageous of smoking. However they still think that in order to reduce the number of students smoking government should take action for example like increasing the price of the cigarettes or send information about smoking danger through televisions.

However, these findings are only true for 30 of UiTM students and cannot be generalized to other university students. The same study need to be conducted with students from other faculty to see if there are similarities with factors that will influence smoking habits among UiTM Shah Alam students.

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6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the conclusions of the study, here are several recommendations to be considered:

(a) Most of the students are actually considered as heavy smokers and this is bad because students are considered as the future of a nation. We don’t want our future to be risk away because of this smoking phenomenon thus government should take action quickly.

(b) In order to try quit smoking, students should be firm to themselves where they should reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke per day and by only doing that they can actually have a chance to quit smoking completely.

(c) Students believe that their friends are first source of cigarettes that is why as good peers we should never to influence others with bad behaviors. Every good peer should show good examples to the others. They also think that the price of the cigarettes are reasonable, however that is so not true. Students must realize that the money given are actually should be used for studies and not to be waste by buying cigarettes. RM10 per packet is not an actually a reasonable price for students to spend every two days, just imagine how much you will need To pay per month just for you to buy cigarettes.

(d) It is true life as a student can sometimes be so stressful. However smoking is not the only way to reduce stress. There are a lot of other ways that we can do to reduce stress for example by exercising, spending quality time with your family or just by even hanging out you’re your friends together. Students should think wisely that even if smoke can help reduce stress however it will lead to other problems for example like healthiness problems. Does it worth it to risk your health just to reduce some stresses?

(e) Students actually know the danger of smoking, they smoking can lead to health disease such as lung cancer. However they still think that government should take more actions to reduce the number of students who smoke. Action that can be taken and may be effective is to actually increase the price of the cigarettes an showing more information about the danger of smoking through television.

(f) Since this study had only focused on Universiti Teknologi Mara students, it is recommended that further studies should be carried out on students from other universities to see whether there are any similarities in the finding. Furthermore, further research could also explore the different types of promotional strategies used by the effectiveness of these strategies. In future, the research should have more numbers of respondents in answering the questionnaire. This is because the variety of finding will be more specific and the objectives can be achieved clearly. In addition, online questionnaire can be used instead of manual so that the data can be obtain easily rather than manually key in which take more time than we used to.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Fatai S.,Ali D., Batulu I. & John A. (2010). Cigarette Smoking Habits Among Adolescents in Northeast Nigeria. The Internet Journal of Epidemiology, 8,1-12.

Waqar Al-Kubaisy, Nik N., Hisham A., Ghayth H. & Shaheen K. (2011). Factots Associated With Smoking Behaviour Among University Students in Syria. Journal of Asian Behavioural Studies,1, 21-29.

R.M.Shavelle, D.R.Paculdo, J.Strauss, S.J.Kush (2008). Smoking Habit and Mortality, Journal of Insurance Medicine, 40, 170-178.

American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts & Figures (1991). New York: American Cancer Society, 1991.

Chandler W (1989, July 24). The devastating costs of tobacco addiction. USA Today v. 115.

U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Smoking and Health in the Americas. World Health Organization, 1992.

Jenkins M., McEwen J., Moreton WJ, East R, Seymour L, Goodin M, Smoking Policies at Work. Published by Health Education Authority. UK, 1987.

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APPENDICES

APPENDIX A: Literature Review

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of smoking and to describe the habits, attitudes, and practices related to smoking among students of UniversitiTeknologi Mara Shah Alam.

Students (n=30) were recruited in randomly selected, cluster samples drawn from the medical and engineering colleges of UiTM. They were made familiar with a modified Smoking Questionnaire and the Attitudes towards Smoking Questionnaire to study their habits, attitudes, and beliefs in relation to smoking.The study revealed that the prevalence of smoking was 28.6% (50.2% among males and 6.5% among females). Friends, not family, were the main source of the first smoking, and this most often occurred after 15 years of age (82.3%). Males preferred smoking in the cafeteria, females in the bathroom. The main advantage of smoking for males was calming down, while for females it was independence. Non-smokers chose not to smoke because of health and hatred of the habit. The non-smokers had more positive attitudes against smoking and were more aware of the adverse effects of smoking. The reasons smokers gave for starting smoking were pleasure, followed by stress and curiosity. Two-thirds of smokers intended to quit smoking in the future. Some smokers disagreed with some criticisms against smoking, and reasons why they did not want to quit included social attitudes, addiction, and not knowing how to quit.

Results of this study may provide baseline data to develop an anti-smoking program in the university and encourage policy makers to limit smoking in the university by strengthening the policies against smoking.

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APPENDIX B: Questionnaire

SMOKING HABITS AMONG UITM SHAH ALAM’S STUDENTS

Dear respondents,

We, undergraduate students from the Faculty of Civil Engineering are doing a survey on smoking habits among UiTM Shah Alam students. The purpose of this survey is to investigate the smoking patterns of engineering students in UiTM Shah Alam. Please respond to the questionnaire as honestly as possible. All the answers will be kept confidential. We are grateful if you could complete this questionnaire.

GROUP MEMBERS:

1. MOHD RAFIQ BIN MOHD YUSOF 20118435042. MUHAMMAD ARIFF EFFENDY BIN ROZINE 20112663223. AHMAD ‘ARIF BIN ZULKEPLI 20116280024. MOHD ASRAR BIN BASRI 2011619006

PART 1 : DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Please [/] your answer.

1. Sex : Male [ ]Female [ ]

2. Age : 18 – 20 [ ]21 – 23 [ ]24 – 27 [ ]

3. Place of Resident : Hostel [ ]Rental house [ ]Stay with family []Own house [ ]

4. Sources of study finance/financial assistant : Scholarship [ ]Loan [ ]

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Parental Assistant [ ]

PART 2 : TYPES OF SMOKERS

Section 1 Please [/] your answer.

YES NO

1. Do you still smoke? [ ] [ ]

2. Are you a heavy smoker? [ ] [ ]

3. Are you aware of the dangers of smoking? [ ] [ ]

4. Have you ever tried quitting smoking? [ ] [ ]

5. On average, how many cigarettes a day do you smoke?

1-5 [ ] 6-10 [ ] more than 10 [ ]

6. How long have you been smoking?

1 - 12 months [ ] 1 - 5 years [ ] more than 5 years [ ]

Section 2 Please [/] your answer.

1. What is your first source of cigarette?

friends [ ] siblings [ ] parents [ ] stalk [ ]

2. What brand of cigarette you smoke?

Dunhill [ ] Winston [ ] GudangGaram [ ]

Other [ ]………………………………………

3. What are your reasons for smoking?

friends/peer group [ ] parents smokers [ ] cigarette adverts [ ]

to reduce stress [ ] other [ ]…………………………………………….

4. What do you believe makes people smoke?

Social acceptance [ ] stress [ ] peer group [ ] pleasure [ ] advertisement [ ]

5. If you are an ex-smoker, what was the reason for stopping smoking?

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Health [ ] religion [ ] parent [ ] finance [ ] all of above [ ] other [ ]………………….

PART 3: OPINION AND SUGGESTION

Please [/] your answer.

1. What aspect of smoking do you consider most disadvantageous?

Finance [ ] social stigma [ ] health [ ]

2. How should information about the dangers of smoking on health be made available to the

people in your area?

Health education [ ] posters [ ] radio [ ]

Television [ ] newspaper [ ] others: …………………………………….

3. What are risks of smoking do you know?

Heart attack [ ] hypertension [] respiratory disease [ ]

small baby [ ] cancer of the lung [ ] delayed wound healing [ ]

4. What do you think should be done to discourage smoking?

Increase price of cigarettes [ ] ban sales of cigarettes []

restrict smoking in public places [ ] ban advertisements on cigarettes []

adverse effects of smoking written on cigarette packets [ ]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION

TO COMPLETE THIS SURVEY

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