Do medical students know enough about smoking to help their future patients? Assessment of New York City fourth-year medical students' knowledge of tobacco cessation and treatment for nicotine addiction.

PURPOSE: Practicing physicians underutilize U.S. Department of Health and Human Services evidence-based approaches to nicotine addiction and treatment. Few studies have assessed medical student knowledge in this area. This study examined New York City fourth-year medical students' knowledge of tobacco cessation and treatment of nicotine addiction.

METHOD: The authors conducted a Web-based survey, comprising 27 closed- and open-ended questions, of six of seven New York City medical schools in the spring of 2004. They drew questions from international, national, and local surveys on tobacco and health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services tobacco treatment guidelines, and prior studies. Primary outcome measures were knowledge of the epidemiology of smoking, benefits of cessation and treatment of nicotine addiction, clinical cessation practices, and students' use of tobacco and intentions to stop smoking.

RESULTS: Of 943 fourth-year medical students, 469 (50%) completed an online survey. Students had good knowledge of the epidemiology of smoking, including its prevalence and health effects, with most responding correctly to relevant questions (mean correct response 79%; SD = 9.4). Students demonstrated a fair understanding of the benefits of cessation (mean correct response, 67%; SD = 19.2) and treatment of nicotine addiction (mean correct response, 61%; SD = 13.2). Three hundred students (64%) rated their own preparation to assist patients to quit as less than adequate.

CONCLUSIONS: Fourth-year medical students at the participating schools in New York City understood the harms of smoking but needed more information on the benefits of stopping smoking and treatment of nicotine addiction.