Objective: The article analyses changes in tobacco use in medical students in Slovakia in 1995, 1999 and 2004.
Methods: Questionnaire survey in 448 students of the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Martin, Slovakia, was carried out in October and November 2004. Data were compared with similar surveys carried out in 1995 and 1999.
Results: Prevalence of daily smoking in men increased from 11.1 in 1995 to 21.8% in 2004. In women, within 1995-2004, daily smoking increased from 5.2% to 12.3%, occasional smoking from 11.6% to 19.8%. Also proportion of women initiating smoking during their university study increased. In both genders the proportion of never smokers dramatically dropped between 1995 and 1999 (in men from 43.2% to 23.2%; in women from 61.9 to 18.2).
Conclusion: Upward trend in tobacco use, particularly in women, is a reason for concern. In medical faculties, principles of prevention should be more emphasized and the students motivated for healthy life-style and to fulfill their future role in public health. The situation noted among medical students indicates that a community in Slovakia is still not satisfactory inclined towards non-smoking and a dramatic decrease of tobacco use can hardly be expected either in the near future.