Students' perceptions toward smoking / Mohd Hamirul Mat Noh and Mohd Huzaimie Ismaili

Many studies have indicated that the young adults (18-24 years) were not fully aware of health consequences of cigarette smoking. The objective of the study is to determine the perception of students towards smoking and their awareness to the effects of smoking to smoker and non-smoker. This study will also examine the factors that influence smoker to smoke. A study was carried out in UiTM Samarahan targeting on the degree students from different courses. This study comprises 200 students from several faculties and courses of UiTM Samarahan. The anonymous question contains information on demographic characteristics, smoking habits and smoking related risk perception. Data was analysed by both descriptive and inferential statistics including the help of SPSS software. The study reveals that the smokers and non-smokers students are aware of the risks of cigarette smoking and its health consequences. From this study also, researchers able to find several factors that influence smoker to smoke. Thus there is a need to promote more effective anti-smoking message focusing effects of each cigarette they smoke since they are aware but not take it serious on the effects.