title: Changes in smoking prevalence, attitudes, and beliefs over 4 years following a campus-wide anti-tobacco intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study examined the effectiveness of an institutional intervention aimed at decreasing prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to smoke on campus over a 4-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were undergraduate students (N = 4,947) enrolled at a large Midwestern university between 2007 and 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2008, tobacco use was banned on campus. Additionally, campus-wide tobacco cessation services and information were provided to all students. A self-report measure assessing demographics, smoking prevalence, attitudes, and smoke exposure was administered at baseline and at 3 time points over the following 3 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of more frequent smokers and less frequent smokers decreased across assessment points. The program appeared to be less effective for female smokers than male smokers. Further, a significant change in attitudes and secondhand smoke exposure was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that a campus-wide tobacco ban is a well-accepted and effective prevention method for smoking. This study lends considerable support for efforts towards smoke-free campuses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA. william.lechner@okstate.edu
authors.forename: William V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Lechner
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Josh L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wiener
authors.forename: Yvon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fils-Aime
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016134:Organizational Policy; D015995:Prevalence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011594:Psychometrics; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult