Assessment of Attitudes Regarding Tobacco-Free Campus Policy and Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among College Students, Faculty, and Staff

Abstract

BackgroundRecently there has been a push to implement tobacco-free policies on college campuses. Policies creating tobacco-free college campuses have increased with changes in social norms. The campus environment provides a setting for individuals to express their attitudes regarding tobacco use.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to assess attitudes among various populations on the college campus relative to smoking, secondhand smoke exposure, and acceptability of campus tobacco policies in order to develop effective, targeted implementation strategies.MethodsA sample (n = 462) of university students, faculty, and staff completed a web-based survey that included demographics and opinion items regarding tobacco free policy.ResultsThere were differences among the participants (n = 462) in terms of tobacco-free policy acceptance and attitudes toward secondhand smoke exposure. Campus role (faculty, staff, or student), gender, and smoking status (never, former, current) all had significant (P < .001) differences; however, for self-reported race no significant differences were found.DiscussionFindings suggest that the diverse populations found on college campuses require a tailored approach when designing health education programs.Translation to Health Education PracticeAcknowledging and understanding differing perspectives among subpopulations can enhance the ability of the health educator to develop more appropriate and specific messages.