OBJECTIVETo investigate tobacco-related knowledge, attitudes and analyze related factors among the college students in Guangzhou.

METHODSIn May 2012, 11 593 college students from six universities in Guangzhou were selected and investigated by stratified cluster random sampling.Investigation content includes social demographic information, smoking behaviors, tobacco-related knowledge and attitudes. Chi-square test was used to analyze the difference about knowledge of harm of tobacco and awareness of tobacco control related legislation as well as tobacco-related attitudes between smokers and non-smokers. Factors on tobacco-related knowledge were analyzed by using rank sum test.

RESULTSCurrent smoking rate among undergraduates was 6.1% (706/11 593) , 11.5% (622/5388) for males and 1.4% (84/6205) for females. The awareness rate of that smoking addiction was a chronic disease in non-smokers(82.6%, 8954/10 836) was higher than that in smokers (73.1%, 509/696) (χ(2) = 40.09, P < 0.01). The awareness rate about smoking could cause emphysema in college students was 78.6% (8986/11 427) , and the rate was higher in non-smokers(79.3%, 8522/10 741) than that in smokers(67.6%, 464/686)(χ(2) = 52.57, P < 0.01). The awareness rate about passive smoking could cause lung cancer in college students was 84.6% (9636/11 391) , and the rate was higher in non-smokers (85.2%, 9125/10 706) than that in smokers (74.6%, 511/685) (χ(2) = 55.86, P < 0.01). The awareness about Framework Convention on Tobacco Control was 25.7% (2966/11 554) , and the rate was lower in non-smokers (25.3%, 2751/10 856) than that in smokers (30.7%, 215/700) (χ(2) = 9.80, P < 0.01). Among smokers, 54.8% (377/688) considered that smoking was enjoyful. This was higher than that in non-smokers (16.8%, 1802/10 752) (χ(2) = 606.92, P < 0.05). Among non-smokers, 92.2% (9935/10 781) considered that government should strengthen smoking control. The percentage was higher than that in smokers (74.2%, 515/694) (χ(2) = 258.13, P < 0.05). College students who were females, at high-grade and with high parental educational level, high monthly household income, high living expenses per month in school and household registration in towns and places out of Guangdong province showed higher tobacco-related knowledge score (all P values <0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe awareness of tobacco-related knowledge was not high generally among college students in Guangzhou, but the awareness was significantly higher in non-smokers than that of smokers. The related factors which influenced the awareness rate of tobacco-related knowledge include sex, grade, place of household registration, parent's educational level and household income.