title: Smoking prevalence, attitudes, and confidence about tobacco roles among Australian nursing students.
abstract: This study identified major challenges to be addressed before student nurses can achieve their full potential in providing effective and comprehensive smoking cessation interventions. Smoking behaviors were assessed among undergraduate nursing students. In addition, students' attitudes, confidence levels, and support for extra training in tobacco control were examined. A nonprobability sample of 381 students at an Australian university was surveyed. The consent rate was 81%. Prevalence of current smoking was 21%. In the regression analysis, age group was the only statistically significant predictor of smoking status. Over one third (36%) did not endorse the nonsmoking exemplar role of their future profession. Most (60%) did not support the concept of routine smoking cessation intervention. Students who were smokers had significantly higher tobacco control confidence levels than nonsmokers. Smoking-related variables did not differ between students in different years of the course. Improved tobacco control training is needed at undergraduate level.
authors: Raoul A. Walsh, BA Dip Ed, PhD, Centre for Health Research and Psycho-oncology, The Cancer Council New South Wales/University of Newcastle, and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia. Flora Tzelepis, PhD, BSc(Psych) (Hons), Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia. Krystyna Cholowski, RN, PhD, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia. Elizabeth Stojanovski, BMath (Hons), PhD, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia. Correspondence related to content to: Raoul A. Walsh, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
authors: Raoul A
authors: RA
authors: Walsh
authors: Krystyna
authors: K
authors: Cholowski
authors: Flora
authors: F
authors: Tzelepis
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Stojanovski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*