SUPPORT FOR TOBACCO-FREE CAMPUS POLICY (TFCP) IN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS ACCORDING TO READINESS TO QUIT SMOKING AND HEALTH BELIEF LEVELS OF STUDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Authors : Mehmet Kurcer, Gülşen Karaca, Merve Bektaş

Pages : 132-143

View : 58 | Download : 53

Publication Date : 2024-02-08

Article Type : Research

Abstract :%91,1 of young people support smoking bans in public indoor areas and %74,5 want smoking to be banned in open places. Examples are available in different countries for smokeless university/campus. Suggestions on the subject by international organisations also exist. (For example: The guideline prepared by İnternational Organisation Against Tuberculosis and Lung Cancer.) This Guidline includes basic steps relating to smokeless university/campus. Smoke and tobacco-free policies are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a best practice for comprehensive tobacco control. It was aimed to detect readiness to quit smoking and approaches towards Tobacco free campus policy (TFCP) according to health belief model in university students during Covid-19 pandemic. Population of this cross sectional research examining factors affecting students’ participation in tobacco free campus projects consisted of 1426 students studying in one of the faculties of medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and vocational school of health services in İbni Sina Campus of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University. HBM-SCS (HBM-Smoking Cessation Scale) and RSCS (Readiness to Smoking Cessation Scale) were used to detect readiness to quit smoking and attitudes towards TFCP We detected that while %47,8 of the students didn’t change smoking behavior in pandemic,%13,9 increased smoking,%32,5 reduced smoking and %5.7 quitted smoking. %72.5 had willingness to support TFCP. %36,6 thought of quitting smoking within 6 months and %20 thought of quitting smoking within 1 month. Means of HBM-SCS total scores (p=0.002) and RSCS total scores (p<0.001) in students who had willingness to support TFCP were significantly higher than students who didn’t. Tobacco free campus policies can be acceptable and preventive steps for young people.
Keywords : Tütünsüz kampüs politikası, Sigara bırakmaya hazır olma ölçeği, Sağlık inanç modeli sigara bırakma ölçeği, Sağlık inanç düzeyleri, Sigara içmek, Covid-19