[Tobacco smoking among students from Universities in Rzeszów].

The habit of tobacco smoking has existed for centuries, it has spread all over the world and become one of the most important health risk factors. It is assumed that 21 illnesses are related to tobacco smoking. Among those illnesses there are the following: tuberculosis, some types of cancer, circulatory system diseases, pneumothorax, chronic obliterative pneumonia, bronchitis, flu, stomach ulcer and some diseases among babies such as low birth weight and the syndrome of sudden death. Systematic monitoring of smoking cigarettes among students who are especially prone to smoking addiction can be used in activities concerning so called health risk management. The aim of the study was to try to assess tobacco smoking among students from the city of Rzeszów representing different faculties. 555 students representing two largest Universities in Podkarpackie Province: Rzeszowski University and Technical University were asseesed in this study. To present the data statistically the chi-square test of independence was used. The studies show that most of the students have never smoked cigarettes (71.2%) and more that a half of the students who smoke regularly say that they might give up smoking in the future. The number of cigarettes smoked daily was different on different faculties. Students representing humanities and science faculties smoke more cigarettes daily than students representing medical faculties.