[Smoking habits in nursing students: prevalence, attitudes and knowledge]

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Public Health
• Tobacco Control

Background:

• Smoking remains a significant public health concern globally.
• Healthcare professionals, including nurses, play a crucial role in smoking cessation interventions.
• Understanding smoking habits and attitudes among future nurses is vital for effective public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of smoking habits among nursing students.
• To evaluate nursing students' knowledge of the adverse health effects of smoking.
• To understand nursing students' attitudes towards smoking and cessation.

Main Methods:

• A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection.
• The study targeted nursing students in their third year at the University School of Girona.
• A total of 135 questionnaires were completed, representing an 88% response rate.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of current smoking among nursing students was 34.3%.
• Ex-smokers constituted 23.3%, and non-smokers 42.5%.
• A high percentage of students (92% non-smokers, 91% ex-smokers, 76% smokers) acknowledged smoking's adverse health effects, with health protection cited as the primary motivation for quitting.

Conclusions:

• Nursing students exhibit a notable prevalence of smoking, despite awareness of health risks.
• Nurses should be equipped with effective smoking cessation methods, given their influence on public behavior.
• Further interventions are needed to reduce smoking rates among nursing students and enhance their role in patient counseling.