A PHENOMENOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF BODY IMAGE AND HEALTH AMONG HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENTS WHO SMOKE TOBACCO

Abstract

Objective: To understand the meaning that health sciences students attribute to the body and health in relation to tobacco use at a higher education institution in Bogotá-Valledupar, Colombia, during the 2023- 2024 academic year. Material and Method: Qualitative study with a phenomenological design. Eleven students from the Medicine, Respiratory Therapy, and Optometry programs participated in the study and
were selected using convenience sampling. Data was collected through written autobiographies and indepth interviews. Thematic analysis was performed. Criteria of methodological rigor and the COREQ checklist were considered. Results: Initially, 685 codes were identified and subsequently grouped into two main categories: “Body, self-care, and tobacco consumption” and “Perceptions of physical and mental health in relation to tobacco consumption.” Conclusions: The findings reveal a complex understanding of the body, influenced by sociocultural factors, experiences of discrimination, and the tension between biomedical knowledge and self-care. For the field of nursing, these results provide tools for rethinking
care from a holistic perspective, recognizing participants’ life trajectories, cultural identity, and emotional suffering as key dimensions in health promotion.