Prevalence of tobacco product use and associated factors among healthcare workers in Trabzon, Türkiye: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco use among healthcare workers is important not only in terms of individual health risks but also regarding the effectiveness of tobacco control services. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tobacco use among healthcare personnel working in public primary, secondary, and tertiary care facilities in Trabzon Province and to assess factors associated with tobacco use. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2025 and February 2026 among healthcare workers aged ≥18 years who were actively employed in public healthcare institutions in Trabzon Province and agreed to participate. Data were collected from 1381 participants through face-to-face interviews. Use of any tobacco product within the past 30 days was considered the primary dependent variable. Nicotine dependence was assessed using the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with tobacco use and nicotine dependence. RESULTS: The prevalence of current tobacco product use was 25.2% (95% CI: 23.0-27.4). Specifically, 20.9% used only traditional tobacco, 1.5% used only novel nicotine and tobacco products, and 2.8% were dual users. Approximately half of the users exhibited moderate-to-high nicotine dependence. Multivariable analysis showed current use was strongly associated with having a tobacco user in the close environment (AOR=10.40; 95% CI: 5.20-20.81). Male sex (AOR=1.84; 95% CI: 1.33-2.56), shift/on-call work (AOR=1.51; 95% CI: 1.12-2.04), exposure to pro-tobacco social media content (AOR=1.73; 95% CI: 1.31-2.27), and higher stress scores (AOR=1.31; 95% CI: 1.22-1.42) were also associated with current use. Among users, male sex increased the odds of moderate-to-high nicotine dependence (AOR=2.04; 95% CI: 1.23-3.38), whereas living with family was associated with lower odds (AOR=0.47; 95% CI: 0.24-0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco use among healthcare workers remains a significant public health issue. These findings reveal associations between tobacco use and individual, occupational, and psychosocial factors, highlighting the need for longitudinal studies and tailored tobacco control strategies in this population.