title: Improving tobacco-free advocacy on college campuses: a novel strategy to aid in the understanding of student perceptions about policy proposals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tobacco-control policy proposals are usually met with opposition on college campuses. Research to understand students' viewpoints about health-related policy proposals and messaging strategies, however, does not exist. This study investigated students' perceptions about a smoke-free policy proposal to help understand their positions of support and opposition and to inform the development of effective messaging strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  In January 2012, 1,266 undergraduate students from a midwestern university completed an online questionnaire about smoke-free campus policies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Responses were coded and analyzed using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software and chi-square, independent-samples t tests, and binary logistic models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most students who supported a smoke-free policy considered environmental or aesthetic conditions, whereas most opponents used personal freedom frames of thought. Supporters viewed smoking policies in personal terms, and opponents suggested means-ends policy reasoning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, points of reference and emotions about proposed policies provided insight about participants' perspectives to help inform effective policy advocacy efforts.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Coaching, College of Education and Professional Studies , University of Wisconsin-Whitewater , Whitewater , Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Brandi S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Niemeier
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Chapp
authors.forename: Whitney B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Henley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003254:Consumer Advocacy / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010465:Perception; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: administration; community health; health education; other drugs; tobacco policy; tobacco-free campus