A qualitative study of attitudes, beliefs, and practices among 40 undergraduate smokers.
OBJECTIVE
Because little is known about college-age smokers, the authors conducted a qualitative study to better understand this population.


METHODS
Forty college student smokers from 12 Pacific Northwest colleges participated in the study.


METHODS
The authors identified themes and built models to ascertain important factors related to smoking and smoking cessation. Four models emerged: smoking facilitators, smoking barriers, cessation facilitators, and cessation barriers.


RESULTS
The authors observed physical, psychological, and social influences across models, and social influences were strongly associated with both smoking and cessation. Many smokers were unlikely to define themselves as regular smokers. Most smokers had made prior quit attempts.


CONCLUSIONS
College students are a unique category of smoker and colleges can play a role in helping them achieve cessation.
Thompson
Beti
B
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA. bthomso@fhcrc.org
Thompson
L Anne
LA
Hymer
Jennifer
J
Zbikowsi
Susan
S
Halperin
Abigail
A
Jaffe
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D016134:Organizational Policy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities