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

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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 in-depth 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.