The Level of Knowledge of High School Students in Harapan 1 Medan Regarding Cigarettes as a Risk Factor for Lung Cancer

Oct 13, 2025 by vinooalluri.com 53 views

The Level of Knowledge of High School Students in Harapan 1 Medan Regarding Cigarettes as a Risk Factor for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide, with 8.2 million deaths reported in 2012, of which 1.59 million were due to lung cancer. The incidence of lung cancer is closely linked to smoking, with a person's risk of lung cancer being 7.8 times higher if they smoke. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that smoking is one of the biggest threats to public health globally. In Indonesia, the prevalence of smoking is relatively high and tends to increase annually, with the age group 15-19 years being the highest in terms of novice smokers.

Research Purpose

This study aims to determine the level of knowledge of students in Harapan 1 Medan High School regarding cigarettes as a risk factor for lung cancer. By gaining a good understanding of this risk, it is expected that the prevalence of smoking among adolescents can be reduced.

Research Methods

This research was conducted using a descriptive method with a cross-sectional design. The research location was Harapan 1 Medan High School, with data collection conducted on 27 to 28 October 2016. The sample consisted of 96 respondents who were randomly selected using the Simple Random Sampling method. Data was collected through a questionnaire that included questions about smoking, knowledge about lung cancer, and the effect of smoking on health.

Research Results

The results showed that the majority of respondents were male (54.2%), with 15 years (37.5%) being the most common age group. The respondents' pocket money per day ranged from Rp 10,000.00 to Rp 30,000.00. It was also found that 11 people (11.5%) were smokers, and 31 people (32.3%) had tried smoking. The sources of information about cigarettes most widely obtained by respondents came from television (39.6%), the internet (35.4%), and friends (34.4%). The level of knowledge of respondents regarding cigarettes and lung cancer showed quite good results, with 76.04% having good knowledge, 22.92% moderate, and 1.04% less. Based on sex, good knowledge was most commonly found in women, while based on age, respondents aged 15 years had the highest level of good knowledge.

Conclusion

The percentage of knowledge level of high school students in Harapan 1 Medan regarding cigarettes as a risk factor for lung cancer shows encouraging results, where most respondents have good knowledge. This indicates that educational efforts about the dangers of smoking have been carried out quite effectively, especially among women and students aged 15 years. However, in the presence of respondents who have moderate and lacking knowledge, it is necessary to improve health education so that more students understand the dangers of smoking and the risk of lung cancer. Sustainable education through various channels, including social media and school activities, can be an effective strategy for reducing the prevalence of smoking among adolescents.

Implications of the Study

The findings of this study have several implications for health education and smoking prevention among adolescents. Firstly, the results suggest that educational efforts about the dangers of smoking have been effective in increasing the level of knowledge among high school students. However, there is still a need to improve health education to reach those who have moderate and lacking knowledge. Secondly, the study highlights the importance of sustainable education through various channels, including social media and school activities, to reduce the prevalence of smoking among adolescents. Finally, the study suggests that targeted interventions, such as education and counseling, may be necessary to address the specific needs of novice smokers and those who have tried smoking.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations that should be acknowledged. Firstly, the sample size was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Secondly, the study relied on self-reported data, which may be subject to biases and inaccuracies. Finally, the study did not control for other factors that may influence the level of knowledge and smoking behavior among adolescents, such as socioeconomic status and family background.

Future Research Directions

Future research should aim to build on the findings of this study by exploring the following research directions:

Longitudinal study: A longitudinal study could be conducted to examine the changes in knowledge and smoking behavior among high school students over time.
Comparative study: A comparative study could be conducted to compare the level of knowledge and smoking behavior among high school students in different regions or countries.
Intervention study: An intervention study could be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of targeted interventions, such as education and counseling, in reducing the prevalence of smoking among adolescents.
Qualitative study: A qualitative study could be conducted to explore the experiences and perspectives of high school students who have tried smoking or are novice smokers.

By addressing these research directions, future studies can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the level of knowledge and smoking behavior among high school students and inform the development of effective interventions to reduce the prevalence of smoking among adolescents.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Level of Knowledge of High School Students in Harapan 1 Medan Regarding Cigarettes as a Risk Factor for Lung Cancer

Q: What is the main purpose of this study? A: The main purpose of this study is to determine the level of knowledge of high school students in Harapan 1 Medan regarding cigarettes as a risk factor for lung cancer.

Q: What is the significance of this study? A: This study is significant because it aims to reduce the prevalence of smoking among adolescents by increasing their knowledge about the risks associated with smoking.

Q: What research method was used in this study? A: This study used a descriptive method with a cross-sectional design.

Q: How many respondents were involved in this study? A: A total of 96 respondents were involved in this study.

Q: What was the age range of the respondents? A: The age range of the respondents was 15-19 years.

Q: What was the most common source of information about cigarettes among the respondents? A: The most common source of information about cigarettes among the respondents was television (39.6%), followed by the internet (35.4%) and friends (34.4%).

Q: What was the level of knowledge of the respondents regarding cigarettes and lung cancer? A: The level of knowledge of the respondents regarding cigarettes and lung cancer was quite good, with 76.04% having good knowledge, 22.92% moderate, and 1.04% less.

Q: What was the most common age group among the respondents? A: The most common age group among the respondents was 15 years (37.5%).

Q: What was the most common sex among the respondents? A: The most common sex among the respondents was male (54.2%).

Q: What was the most common pocket money per day among the respondents? A: The most common pocket money per day among the respondents was between Rp 10,000.00 to Rp 30,000.00.

Q: How many respondents were smokers? A: A total of 11 respondents (11.5%) were smokers.

Q: How many respondents had tried smoking? A: A total of 31 respondents (32.3%) had tried smoking.

Q: What are the implications of this study? A: The implications of this study are that educational efforts about the dangers of smoking have been effective in increasing the level of knowledge among high school students. However, there is still a need to improve health education to reach those who have moderate and lacking knowledge.

Q: What are the limitations of this study? A: The limitations of this study are that the sample size was relatively small, and the study relied on self-reported data.

Q: What are the future research directions? A: The future research directions are to conduct a longitudinal study, comparative study, intervention study, and qualitative study to further explore the level of knowledge and smoking behavior among high school students.

Q: What can be done to reduce the prevalence of smoking among adolescents? A: To reduce the prevalence of smoking among adolescents, sustainable education through various channels, including social media and school activities, can be an effective strategy. Additionally, targeted interventions, such as education and counseling, may be necessary to address the specific needs of novice smokers and those who have tried smoking.