Abstract
In this study, the objective was to assess determinants of willingness to accept secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among dental students.
This cross-sectional study included 420 dental students. Multiple linear regression analyses assessed the determinants of willingness to accept SHS exposure.
A total of 336 students completed questionnaires. The multivariate model showed a direct relationship of increased willingness to accept SHS exposure with being a smoker (β = 19.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 14.2 to 24.1, p < .0001), presence of a smoker in the household (β = 10.6, 95% CI = 6.2 to 15.1, p < .0001), presence of a smoker in a friends/relatives' house (β = 8.6, 95% CI = 4.6 to 12.5, p < .0001), and being a man (β = 7.3, 95% CI = 3.1 to 11.5, p = .001). There was an inverse relationship with increased knowledge of health risks (β = -.215, 95% CI = -.402 to -.028, p = .025).
The willingness to accept SHS exposure was positively associated with the presence of a smoker in the household or in a friends/relatives' house, being a smoker, and being a man. Knowledge of health risks showed an inverse association.