Teaching smoking cessation to future nurses: Quebec educators' beliefs

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Public Health
• Tobacco Control

Background:

• Initial nursing education significantly influences future professional practice.
• Smoking cessation strategies are underrepresented in current nursing curricula.
• Effective tobacco cessation interventions are crucial for public health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the practices, attitudes, and beliefs of Quebec nursing educators regarding smoking cessation strategies.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to integrating smoking cessation into initial nursing education.
• To inform strategies for improving smoking cessation education in nursing programs.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive research design was employed.
• An online questionnaire was distributed to nursing educators in Quebec.
• Data were collected from 278 nursing educators.

Main Results:

• Educators acknowledge the importance of smoking cessation but allocate only one hour annually to the topic.
• Teaching primarily focuses on the risks of tobacco use, with limited emphasis on cessation techniques.
• Perceived obstacles include misconceptions and a lack of knowledge among educators.

Conclusions:

• There is a significant gap in the integration of smoking cessation strategies within Quebec's initial nursing education.
• Addressing educators' false beliefs and knowledge deficits is essential for effective curriculum development.
• Increased awareness and targeted training are needed to equip future nurses with vital smoking cessation skills.