Determinants of Support for a Smoke-free University Policy

Abstract

This study found that a policy banning smoking would have support from those students who have knowledge of smoking health hazards and those unwilling to accept exposure to SHS.

Smoking Behaviors and Attitudes Towards the Smoke-Free Campus Policy: A Systematic Review

“…The establishment of the smoke-free campus policy can elevate the university's image to the public 24,30 . Nevertheless, two studies reported negative attitudes towards the policy 25,26 . In those studies, the respondents felt that the policy created a negative stigma against smokers and denied smokers' individual rights.…”

“…Further, the ability to generalize study outcomes required consideration because most of the study locations selected were limited to specific locations (i.e., only involved one department or one campus or one university). Eight studies used simple random sampling that induced bias [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] , seven studies had low response rates 20,22,24,25,[28][29][30] , and two studies did not state the study limitations 23,31 .…”

“…Eight studies reported a positive impact for smoking behaviors among smokers 23,25,27,28,30,32,33,36 , whereas six studies reported negative impacts 21,22,26,29,34,35 ; three studies reported mixed negative and positive impacts 20,24,31 . Positive behaviors help smokers quit smoking, attempt to quit smoking, plan to quit smoking, and reduce daily cigarette consumption.…”

“…All ten studies that examined the attitudes towards smoking reported negative attitudes towards smoking [23][24][25][26][27][28]32,33,35 . In those studies, the respondents believed that smoking is an annoying habit, bad for health, unacceptable social practice, and that cigarette smoke is suffocating.…”

“…There were also smokers with negative behaviors who felt that the policy did not have a positive impact on them to quit smoking, and they continued to smoke on campus and litter their cigarette butts on campus. All 11 studies that measured SHS exposure 20,21,36,22,23,26,28,30,[33][34][35] reported that respondents were still exposed to SHS at university as a consequence of smokers' negative behaviors; in seven studies, more than 50% of the respondents were exposed to SHS 20,21,23,28,[34][35][36] . Further, two studies that measured the behaviors towards smoking reported that more than 60% of respondents would not approach and reprimand smokers to stop smoking and adhere to smoke-free campus policy 22,23 .…”