AbstractsMedical & Health Science

With the growing concern about the relationship between smoking and health there has been a commensurate growth in knowledge provided by researchers. Yet there remain many unanswered questions when one attempts to produce scientific causal relationships. Further, there is a need for translating these research findings into appropriate educational programs. This paper approaches the smoking-health-education relationship from two avenues. The first is an attempt at analyzing the changes that take place with hydrocarbons after having been exposed to lung tissue of non-smokers. Non-smokers were used so that there would be a consistent type of lung tissue exposed to cigarette smoke. Gas chromatography was the method used for measuring these changes. Atmospheric air, room air, cigarette smoke and expired air samples taken before and after smoking were tested. Various techniques of smoking and collecting expired air samples were also attempted in order to develop the most rational methods needed for this type of research. The second avenue explores the educational implications of this research. Because the smoking habit is so complex the multi-facets of the problem were explored so that the findings of this paper could be put into its proper place within a larger body of knowledge. If research confirms a causal smoking-health relationship then the educator must establish appropriate preventive educational programs. These programs can be enhanced in their development and application if they are based on scientific fact. Hopefully this thesis adds to the relationship between basic research and health education programs. Emphasis in the laboratory was placed on the problems of accurate sampling and precise measurement of air samples. Educational emphasis was placed on the utilization of laboratory research in the development of concepts and objectives.