A three wave assessment of a tobacco free campus policy within a minority serving institution

This study assessed changes (in relation to smoking status) in tobacco use, attitudes toward TFC policies, and tobacco use risk knowledge by applying a three Wave repeated cross-sectional assessment.

Participants were students at Wave 1 (n = 2,169), Wave 2 (n = 2,576), and Wave 3 (n = 2,169) and faculty at Wave 1 (n = 256), Wave 2 (n = 204), and Wave 3 (n = 180).

Measures regarding sociodemographics, tobacco use, attitudes toward TFC policies, and tobacco use risk knowledge were completed.

Compared with Wave 1, more students reported having quit smoking within the last six months at Waves 2 and 3. The negative attitudes toward TFC policies of those who reported quitting in the last six months aligned with those of nonsmokers.

Study findings suggest smoking status as a relevant covariate to focus on to further strengthen and refine existing TFC policies.