NICOTINE DEPENDENCE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH GENERAL HEALTH AMONG MALE EMPLOYEES AT URMIA UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, 2018

Smoking is one of the most common causes of death around the world, and it
influences the physical and mental health of people. The rate of choosing a healthy lifestyle in men is
less than that of women and the health of men working in field of health plays an important role in
providing health services to people. So, the current research was conducted to examine the relationship
between nicotine dependence and general health among male smokers at Urmia University of Medical
Sciences.
Materials & Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 350 male smoker
employees at Urmia University of Medical Sciences. Subjects were selected using convenient and
targeted sampling. Research questionnaires included a 28-Question general health questionnaire (GHQ-
28) and Fagerstrom’s Test for nicotine dependence. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential
statistics through SPSS-16 software.
Results: The mean score for nicotine dependence and general health were 3.33 ± 2.31 (range of scores
was from 0 to 10) and 23.60 ± 13.27 (range of scores from 0-84), respectively. In general, findings
revealed a significant and direct correlation between general health scores and nicotine dependence.
Conclusion: Subjects with less nicotine dependence showed a better health status. Reducing nicotine
dependence can help improve physical and mental health of subjects and it can also help reduce the
likelihood of depression and anxiety disorders.