The research study was started with 200 male students; they were randomly selected from the College of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Quwayiyah in department of Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science. 50% of samples from each department were taken. All students were interviewed by using a structured questionnaire from identified colleges for data collection. This study was conducted between the period of six months.

Students were selected randomly from the common rooms, cafeterias and classes. Undergraduate students of age group (18-28) were included, whereas postgraduate students, house officers were not included. Undergraduate, and postgraduate students of any age, familiar with the English language and Arabic language enrolled in medical Laboratory and Nursing departments inside the college campus, were included in the study. Students those who refused to participate in the study were not included.

To achieve the appropriate sample size, the convenient sampling method was approved. The study objectives were explained to authorities and prior consent from departments concerned was taken. The data collectors were approached to the students in the target area for interviews. Students taking part in the study gave both written and verbal consent. A self-administered questionnaire was circulated among the study participants, and they were asked to complete it followed by the appropriate options. The filled in questionnaire was then returned to the researchers.

A 24-item framed questionnaire was developed including questions such as age of student, sex, marital status, grade level, religious beliefs, economic status, educational levels of their parents, exercise behavior, use of tobacco, frequency of smoking per day, smoking types, the idea of giving up, reasons to initiate smoking habits, the idea of smoking learnt from parents and siblings, smoking habits, the smoking health hazards, and various carcinoma caused by smoking, (Appendix).

The primary questionnaire was managed among 20 students in a pilot study and reviewed by removing confusing items. The questionnaires were conducted by a panel of experienced personnel for collecting and administrating data from 200 respondent, 180 (90%) completed questionnaires were included and the rest 20 (10%) questionnaires were removed due to incomplete reasons. The participants’ smoking habits were stated as current smokers and non-smoker. Smokers were noted as those people who are having regular smoking at least one cigarette, Shisha and Moasselper day.

Permission was taken from the dean of Applied Medical College of Science, Al-Quwayiyah, Shaqra University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Prior to the commencement of the study, written and verbal consent was sought from each and every individual. Request for the name or any other private info was not made purposefully.

All analyses were performed using SPSS version 20. Identification numbers were given for the collected questionnaire for counting and organizing purposes. All questions were coded and then imported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. All variables categories were coded with numbers (for example, Category: medical laboratory as 1 and Nursing as 2). Descriptive statistics were used to compute the demographic data and it included: mean standard deviation and frequency. ANOVA methods were used to check hypotheses of significant difference where appropriate.

Table 1 described the distribution of total population as well as socioeconomic parameters of the 200 participants out of them 51 (25.5%) were current smokers. The participants were divided into four different groups:

Group I; less than 18 years of age (6.8%), Group II; between 18-20 years of age (55%), Group III; between 21-24 years of age (36.7%), and Group IV; 25 years or older (1.8%). Of the current smokers, the 19-21 and 22-24 age groups constitute the largest number of cigarettes smoked per day (P <0.05). Smoking habits were significantly higher in males (P <0.01) Smoking habits were not associated with mothers nor with siblings’ smoking behaviors. Also smoking habits were not concerned with regular exercise. Most of the participants appeared to be mild smokers.

Table 2 described the results of the affects to cigarette, Moassel, and Shisha addiction those current smokers come out: 40% smokers consume cigarettes less than 10 cigarettes per day 23% smoke 11-15 cigarettes every day, 10% smoker consume 16-20 cigarettes per day, 12% smoker 21-25 cigarettes per day, and 15% smoker consume cigarettes more than 25 cigarettes per day. The students of those who consume Moassel, 35% smoked less than 10 Moassel per day, 27% smoked 11-15 Moassel per day, and 14% smoked more than 25 Moassel per day. People those who smoked shisha: 33% smoked less than 10 shisha per day, and 26% smoked 11-15 Shisha per day.

When enquired about their awareness of health hazards of smoking & its complications, 71% of the current smokers said that they were aware of the diseases, hazards & complications and 74% of them expressed desire to quit smoking permanently (Table 3). The ratio of smokers was indirectly proportionate to the religious beliefs, when smokers know about the various fatwa’s & references from the religious scholar and knowledge of the relevant diseases acquired due to smoking (P < 0.05).

Table 1.Demographic breakdown by smoking status.

Table 2.Smoking Distribution behavior by Smoking Types per Day.

Graph 1.Smoking Distribution behavior by Smoking Types per Day.

Table 3.Smokers’ responses to specific Questions.

Graph 2.Smokers’ responses to specific Questions.