SMOG RELATED AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Abstract Background: Smog is a significant environmental and public health issue, particularly in urban areas with high levels of air pollution. It is associated with adverse health effects, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as environmental impacts such as damage to crops and ecosystems. Objective: To assess the knowledge of medical students about smog and its associated factors. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to August 2023. Convenience sampling was used to include 111 MBBS students of Lahore Medical & Dental College. A self-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS version 23. Chi-square test was applied to find associations between the variables. Results: A higher number of male students cited decreased visibility (p=0.024) as a health implication of smog. More male students named crop burning (p=0.043) and burning garbage (p=0.036) as contributing factors to smog. More females than males thought that carbon monoxide played an important role in producing smog (p=0.036). A higher number of males than females recommended increased tree planting (p=0.006) and the use of renewable energy sources (p=0.028) as modes of prevention. Among males, 41 (93%) believed that social media could work as the most effective tool for health education regarding smog. Conclusion: Medical students have a good understanding of the factors associated with smog, its health implications, and preventive measures. Social media and health awareness campaigns could be the most effective mediums for spreading awareness about smog.