Beliefs, knowledge, and self-efficacy of nursing students regarding tobacco cessation

Evidence-based clinical interventions for smoking cessation have proven to be effective in reducing smoking rates among patients who use tobacco. Ensuring that registered nurses (RNs) are knowledgeable and have the self-efficacy to provide such clinical interventions can contribute to declines in tobacco use among their patients who smoke. The aim of this study was to determine if baccalaureate nursing (BSN) students in Minnesota received training in the clinical treatment of tobacco dependence and to identify perceived barriers that may limit their ability to intervene with their patients.

Quantitative descriptive, with data collected in spring of 2007. The sample was 675 senior BSN students enrolled in ten Minnesota private and public institutions. The survey questionnaire included demographics, knowledge about tobacco treatment, personal tobacco-use history, beliefs about smoking, self-efficacy, and behavioral application of cessation intervention.

BSN students generally reported that they were comfortable assessing tobacco use among their patients and referring tobacco users to cessation resources. Nursing students who considered themselves smokers (7.9%) and who reported using tobacco in the last 30 days but did not consider themselves smokers (17.5%) indicated more agreement regarding the positive aspects of smoking, and were less likely to view it as their professional responsibility to help smokers quit, than did non-smoking nursing students (74.6%).

Nursing students' personal smoking behaviors affected their beliefs about smoking and their view about the professional role in helping smokers quit. These findings have implications for undergraduate nursing programs regarding professional role socialization and education about clinical smoking cessation interventions.