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Tobacco use among nursing students: prevalence, attitudes and education

Billet, Kelly (2014) Tobacco use among nursing students: prevalence, attitudes and education. Undergraduate Thesis, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Purpose: To describe the tobacco use behavior, attitudes, and training and curriculum of nursing students towards tobacco use. To examine if smoking status or progression through nursing school impacts attitudes and tobacco use.

Background: As the most trusted profession, nurses have great influence on his/her patient’s health. Worldwide, tobacco use among health care professions students, especially nurses, varies greatly by country and region. In the United States, college aged students, including nursing students, have higher rates of intermittent (non-daily) smoking than daily smoking. Other forms of tobacco, including hookah and electronic cigarettes, are also becoming more popular.

Methods: This study used a descriptive survey adapted from the Global Health Professions Student Survey. Data was collected and managed using REDCap electronic data capture tools. Four baccalaureate schools of nursing granted permission to survey their students. A public survey link was emailed to a contact person at each school to forward to students. Participants were excluded if they were less than 18 years of age. Frequency and descriptive analysis was done using SPSS.

Results/Conclusions: The majority of participants were nonsmokers (79.4%), with 14.3% being intermittent smokers and 2.4% daily smokers. The majority of those who had experimented with cigarettes (48.4%) had first done so from 16-19 years of age (63.1%). Most students agreed with the attitude questions regarding tobacco use and policy, and that healthcare professionals need specific raining on tobacco cessation techniques. While 99% believed that healthcare providers have a role in giving out smoking cessation advice, only 24.5% had received formal cessation training. By the fourth year of school, less than half (45.9%) had received such training. Daily and intermittent smokers were the least likely to agree with smoking bans. The higher numbers of intermittent smokers suggest that students are willing to smoke occasionally and do not view occasional use as dangerous. Education on the dangers of tobacco use, including both cigarettes and other forms of tobacco, should come in middle school/high school before the students begin using those products. Nursing students do not have the proper training to educate their patient’s on tobacco cessation upon graduation from school.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Billet, KellyMisskbillet@gmail.com
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairDunbar-Jacob, Jacquelinedunbar@pitt.eduDUNBAR
Committee MemberAlbrecht, Susansaa01@pitt.eduSAA01
Committee MemberO'Connell, Kathleenoconnell@tc.columbia.edu
Committee MemberShiffman, Saulshiffman@pinneyassociates.com
Date: 25 April 2014
Date Type: Publication
Defense Date: 19 March 2014
Approval Date: 25 April 2014
Submission Date: 17 April 2014
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages: 61
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: David C. Frederick Honors College
School of Nursing > Nursing
Degree: BSN - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Thesis Type: Undergraduate Thesis
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: "Tobacco use; health professionals; nursing students; counseling training, tobacco; smoking; prevalence; health profession, tobacco cessation; Nurses; Health promotion; Role model"
Date Deposited: 25 Apr 2014 18:56
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 14:19
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/21288

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