Factors associated with smoking cessation among university students, faculty, and staff in Saudi Arabia: A...

Smoking cessation is an important public health priority given the substantial health risks associated with tobacco use. This study aimed to assess factors associated with former-smoker status among university students, faculty members, and employees in Saudi Arabia.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Bisha, Saudi Arabia, from August 2024 to April 2025. Eligible participants were adults affiliated with the university who self-identified as current or former smokers. Data were collected using a self-administered online questionnaire. Associations between participant characteristics and former-smoker status were assessed using Pearson's chi-squared test, followed by univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Because only 48 outcome events were available, the multivariable model was restricted to four conceptually selected variables, with all categorical predictors entered as indicator variables.

Among 533 respondents, 113 were current or former smokers; 48 (42.5%) were former smokers and 65 (57.5%) were current smokers. Overall, 83 participants (73.5%) were classified as having quit or attempted to quit smoking. Being classified as having quit or attempted to quit was associated with female sex (p=0.030), non-daily smoking (p=0.009), and cigarettes per day (p=0.023). In univariable analyses, female sex (OR=4.14; 95% CI: 1.54-11.12; p=0.005) and non-daily smoking (OR=6.58; 95% CI: 2.22-19.52; p=0.001) were associated with former-smoker status. In the adjusted analysis, non-daily smoking remained the only independent association (AOR=5.47; 95% CI: 1.60-18.68; p=0.007). The association with female sex was attenuated and no longer statistically significant (AOR=3.01; 95% CI: 0.97-9.36; p=0.057), whereas neither age nor any cigarettes per day category remained independently associated with former-smoker status.

Non-daily smoking was the only factor independently associated with former-smoker status. These findings are exploratory and limited by the single-university convenience sample and the imprecision of some estimates. Larger longitudinal studies using validated measures of tobacco exposure and sustained abstinence are needed to confirm these associations.