Smoking behaviour and attitudes among German nursing students
Karin Vitzthum1, Franziska Koch, David A Groneberg
1Institute of Occupational Medicine, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Free University & Humboldt-University Berlin, Thielallee 69-73, 14195 Berlin, Germany. karin.vitzthum@charite.de
Nurse Education in Practice
|January 17, 2013
Summary
Healthcare trainees show significant smoking rates, with many willing to quit. Integrating smoking cessation interventions into vocational training is crucial for public health.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Medical Education
- Health Promotion
Background:
- Tobacco use remains a significant global public health challenge.
- Healthcare workers play a vital role in tobacco use reduction.
- Early intervention principles should be integrated into healthcare vocational training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate smoking habits, attitudes, and professional beliefs among healthcare trainees.
- To determine the need for and conditions of multilevel prevention and health promotion interventions.
- To inform the development of effective smoking cessation strategies for healthcare students.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was administered to healthcare trainees in a Berlin vocational school in 2010.
- Data collected included smoking prevalence, nicotine dependency, quitting intentions, and attitudes towards non-smoking protection and patient interventions.
- Response rate was 49.3% (148 students).
Main Results:
- 41.9% of healthcare trainees reported being daily or occasional smokers.
- Nicotine dependency and daily cigarette consumption were relatively low.
- The majority of smoking students expressed a willingness to quit and had made previous attempts.
- Non-smoking protection was highly valued, with intervention rates in patient care ranging from 49% to 72%.
- Significant differences were observed between smokers and non-smokers regarding attitudes towards non-smoking protection and patient interventions.
- Self-reported smoking prevalence was lower than in prior studies but still exceeded the general population rate.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare trainees exhibit a notable smoking prevalence, necessitating targeted interventions.
- Integrating reflection on personal smoking behaviors and their impact on patient care into vocational curricula is essential.
- Developing tailored recruitment strategies and engaging interventions is crucial for addressing smoking among this demographic.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...
01:08Obedience
According to obedience research, we may harm others under the forceful pressures of an authority figure (Milgram, 1974). How about if the inappropriate orders were delivered with less force? The increasing interdependence between nurses and physicians compelled Hofling and his colleagues to explore nurses’ reactions to a potentially harmful medical request made by the perceived authority figure, the doctor (Hofling, Brotzman, Dalrymple, Graves, & Pierce, 1966). In this situation, obedience...
01:20Sputum Studies II: Culture and Sensitivity
Description
Sputum culture and sensitivity is a medical procedure used to diagnose bacterial infections in the respiratory tract and select the most appropriate antibiotics for treatment. This process involves analyzing sputum samples of thick and opaque secretions produced in the lungs and airways. These samples are collected from patients and then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
The test can identify various pathogens responsible for respiratory infections, including Streptococcus,...
Sputum culture and sensitivity is a medical procedure used to diagnose bacterial infections in the respiratory tract and select the most appropriate antibiotics for treatment. This process involves analyzing sputum samples of thick and opaque secretions produced in the lungs and airways. These samples are collected from patients and then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
The test can identify various pathogens responsible for respiratory infections, including Streptococcus,...
01:30Current Trends in Nursing II
Trends in nursing are multifactorial and associated with changes in society, within the nursing profession, and in other professions. Notably, telehealth and remote nursing contribute to successful healthcare delivery for numerous patients and help reduce stress for nurses due to nursing shortages. Nurses can reach patients, monitor their conditions, and interact with them using computers, audio, visual accessories, and telephones—for example, remote patient monitoring systems. Likewise,...
01:30Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Nursing Management
Nursing management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is crucial for providing thorough care and support to patients. Nurses play an integral role in this process through detailed assessment, careful planning, targeted interventions, and ongoing evaluation. Here's an overview of the critical steps in nursing management for COPD.
Assessment
Assessment
01:25Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data
Epidemiological data primarily involves information on specific populations' occurrence, distribution, and determinants of health and diseases. This data is crucial for understanding disease patterns and impacts, aiding public health decision-making and disease prevention strategies. The analysis of epidemiological data employs various statistical methods to interpret health-related data effectively. Here are some commonly used methods: