scholarly journals Prevalence of and factors associated with violations of a campus smoke-free policy: a cross-sectional survey of undergraduate students on a university campus in the USA

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e030504
Author(s):  
Sujith Ramachandran ◽  
Sandra Bentley ◽  
Ethan Casey ◽  
John P Bentley

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of smoking behaviour on campus and to identify the key factors that influence adherence to a campus smoke-free policy.Design & participantsThis study employed a cross-sectional, self-administered survey of undergraduate students at the University of Mississippi. A random sample of all available undergraduate classes was recruited for data collection. Students were provided a survey that included questions on demographics, alcohol use, smoking status, policy awareness, policy attitudes, smoking attitudes, policy support, barriers to policy success and policy violations.ResultsThe prevalence of past 30-day smoking was 23%. More than 63% of current smokers report ever smoking on campus, but less than 10% ever received a warning or a ticket for their violation. Nearly all respondents (92.5%) reported witnessing someone smoking on campus, and 22% reported witnessing someone receiving a ticket. Barriers to policy success include lack of reminders about the policy, lack of support from students and University administrators, and insufficient fines. Smoking behaviour (OR: 7.96; 95% CI: 5.13 to 12.36), beliefs about policy adherence (OR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.40 to 0.69), support for the policy (OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.55 to 0.91) and attitudes against smoking behaviour (OR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.25 to 0.49) were all significantly associated with self-reported policy violations.ConclusionsThis study found that violations of the campus smoke-free policy were fairly frequent and the policy has been largely ineffective, indicating a need for other interventions. Approaches to improve adherence to the policy should address barriers such as reminders about the policy, better policy enforcement and support from the administration.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Green ◽  
Linsay Gray ◽  
Helen Sweeting

Abstract Background: Concerns remain about potential negative impacts of e-cigarettes including possibilities that: youth e-cigarette use (vaping) increases risk of youth smoking; and vaping by parents may have impacts on their children’s vaping and smoking behaviour. Methods: With cross-sectional data from 3291 youth aged 10-15 years from the Understanding Society Survey, we estimated effects of youth vaping on youth smoking (ever, current and initiation in the past year), and of parental vaping on youth smoking and vaping, and examined whether the latter differed by parental smoking status. Propensity weighting was used to adjust for measured confounders and estimate effects of vaping under alternative scenarios of no vaping vs universal adoption, and vs observed vaping levels. E-values were calculated to assess the strength of unmeasured confounding influences needed to negate our estimates. Results: Associations between youth vaping and youth smoking were attenuated considerably by adjustment for measured confounders. Estimated effects of youth vaping on youth smoking were stronger comparing no use to universal adoption (e.g. OR for smoking initiation: 32.5; 95% CI: 9.8-107.1) than to observed levels of youth vaping (OR: 4.4; 0.6-30.9). Relatively strong unmeasured confounding would be needed to explain these effects. Associations between parental vaping and youth vaping were explained by measured confounders. However, estimates for parental vaping on youth smoking indicated effects, especially for youth with ex-smoking parents (e.g. OR for smoking initiation: 11.3; 2.7-46.4) rather than youth with currently smoking parents (OR: 1.0; 0.2-6.4). Relatively weak unmeasured confounding could explain these parental vaping effects. Conclusions: While results for youth vaping and youth smoking associations indicated support for underlying propensities, estimated effects still required considerable unmeasured confounding to be explained fully. However, these estimates from cross-sectional data could also be explained by smoking leading to vaping. Stronger estimates for universal vaping adoption vs observed usage, indicated that if youth vaping does increase risk of youth smoking, this effect may be stronger in the general population of youth, than among those youth who typically vape. Associations of parental vaping with youth smoking and vaping were either explained by measured confounding or could be relatively easily explained by unmeasured confounding.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wahyu Septiono ◽  
Dan Wolf Meyrowitsch

In Indonesia, the prevalence of smoking among 5 – 9 years old children has increased from 0.4% in 2001 to 2% in 2007. Among present adults smokers (>20 years), 17% started to smoke before the age of 13 years. This study identified factors related to smoking behaviour among 8 – 12 years old children in Jakarta, Indonesia using a questionnaire based cross sectional survey to obtain smoking status and possible predictors towards smoking habit. The total sample size was 1,097 students among 3rd - 7th grade students from schools in Jakarta. Self-reported smoking status was defined as whether the child had smoked tobacco within the past two months prior to the interview. The prevalence of smoking was 13.4%. Logistic regression analysis showed that high parental approval on tobacco use (OR=13.4; CI 95%: 5.1 – 35.1) was the strongest predictor on children smoking status, followed by low parental control (OR=12.1; CI 95%: 6.9 – 21.2), being a male compared to a female (OR=10.7; CI 95%: 5.3 – 21.7), mother (OR=10.58; CI 95%: 3.96 – 28.28), father (OR=7.69; CI 95%: 3.59 – 16.47), sibling (OR=7.91; CI 95%: 4.41 – 14.17) smoking status. Smoking parents and siblings, low parental control, and high parental approval on smoking were related to higher odds of smoking among children. The results were used as a rationale for suggestions and recommendations of relevance for future intervention programs and tobacco related research with specific focus on children.Prevalensi anak perokok umur 5-9 tahun di Indonesia meningkat dari 0,4% di tahun 2001 menjadi 2% di tahun 2007. Tujuh belas persen perokok dewasa menyatakan mulai merokok ketika berumur di bawah 13 tahun. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan faktor terkait perilaku merokok anak umur 8-12 tahun di Jakarta dengan menggunakan pendekatan potong lintang untuk menjaring perokok anak dan faktor yang mungkin menyebabkan perilaku tersebut. Kuesioner digunakan untuk menjaring status perilaku merokok anak dalam dua bulan terakhir sebelum survei. Total 1.097 murid kelas 3 sampai 7 di Jakarta menjadi sampel penelitian dengan 13,4% responden merokok dalam 2 bulan terakhir. Analisis regresi logistik menunjukkan bahwa pembolehan merokok di dalam rumah oleh orang tua (OR=13,4; CI 95%: 5,1 – 35,1) menjadi penyebab terkuat, diikuti dengan rendahnya kontrol orang tua (OR=12,1; CI 95%: 6,9 – 21,2), siswa laki-laki (OR=10,7; CI 95%: 5,3 – 21,7), ibu (OR=10.58; CI 95%: 3.96 – 28.28), ayah (OR=7,69; CI 95%: 3,59 – 16,47), dan saudara kandung yang perokok (OR=7,91; CI 95%: 4,41 – 14,17). Orang tua dan saudara kandung yang merokok, rendahnya pengawasan orang tua, dan tingginya pembolehan merokok di dalam rumah menjadi penyebab perilaku merokok anak umur 8- 12 tahun. Hasil penelitian dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai rekomendasi untuk program intervensi di masa depan dan penelitian terkait tembakau dengan fokus kepada anak-anak.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Nicole Hale ◽  
Andrea M. Murphy ◽  
Jon R. Adams ◽  
Cylie M. Williams

Objective In 2010, Peninsula Health (Vic., Australia), became smoke free as part of the locally developed smoking prevention and cessation strategy. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a smoke-free policy on smoking status and employee attitudes over a 3-year period. Methods Data were collected by three surveys 6 months before and 6 months and 3 years after policy introduction. Demographic data, smoking status and attitudes to the introduction of the smoke-free policy were collected for analysis. Results There were 3224 individual responses collected over three time points with similar demographics at each time. There were fewer employees smoking at 6 months (P = 0.010) and 3 years (P < 0.001) after implementation of the policy. There were more employees who felt positive towards the policy 3 years after its introduction (P = 0.028). There were greater odds of an employee not identifying as a smoker after the policy was in place than before the policy was implemented. Conclusions The introduction of a smoke-free policy within a health service was an upstream health intervention that was well accepted by staff and appeared to have a positive effect on smoking behaviours. What is known about the topic? There are an increasing number of environmental changes that seek to decrease smoking behaviours. Bans within workplaces have a direct effect on employee smoking behaviour. What does this paper add? Some employee groups demonstrated the greater odds of smoking when a smoke-free policy was in place. Employees felt positive towards this policy. What are the implications for practitioners? This policy change supports environmental changes affecting individual health-related behaviours.


Author(s):  
Sarah Powell ◽  
Cassie Odahowski ◽  
Elizabeth Crouch ◽  
Erica Sercy ◽  
Jackie Knight ◽  
...  

Objective: Nearly half of U.S. colleges/universities have implemented tobacco-free campus policies. This study analyzed knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with the tobacco-free policy at a large public university. It is important to study public university tobacco policies to determine the most efficient and cost-effective way to reduce tobacco related disease due to tobacco use and exposure. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional, campus-wide electronic survey distributed in November 2016. The primary outcomes of interest included 1) correct knowledge of the tobacco-free policy, 2) community member willingness to approach observed violation of the policy, and 3) a positive opinion of the policy’s effectiveness. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to examine the impact of demographic factors on the outcomes. Results: After analysis, the team found that 23% of university faculty, staff, and students had incorrect knowledge about the campus tobacco-free policy. Almost 70% of the university community reported not having approached a smoking violator. Males were significantly less likely to understand the tobacco-free policy in full, approach a violator, or have a positive opinion about its effectiveness. Staff had better knowledge of the policy, a higher likelihood of approaching a violator, and a better opinion about the policy’s effectiveness compared to graduate and undergraduate students. Conclusions: Interventions are needed to increase awareness and confidence regarding implementation and enforcement of the tobacco-free policy on campus, particularly among faculty and students. This paper expands on the currently increasing knowledge of tobacco-free policy enforcement and benefits. KEYWORDS: Campus; Tobacco Regulation; Tobacco; Secondhand Smoke; Cross-Sectional Survey


Author(s):  
Jianjiu Chen ◽  
Sai Yin Ho ◽  
Lok Tung Leung ◽  
Man Ping Wang ◽  
Tai Hing Lam

Public support is crucial for advancing tobacco control policies. We investigated adolescent support for such policies, and its association with potential factors of social denormalization (SD) beliefs of smoking, tobacco industry denormalization (TID) beliefs (negative perceptions of the industry), and harm perceptions of smoking. In a cross-sectional survey in Hong Kong, 13,964 secondary school students (mean age 15.0 years, 51.3% boys) reported their support (yes/no) for each of 14 tobacco control policies (e.g., further increase tobacco tax). Tobacco-related beliefs and perceptions, and smoking status were also measured. Support for the 14 tobacco control policies ranged from 17.6% to 54.1%. In current non-smokers, SD beliefs, TID beliefs, and harm perceptions were all associated with support for all tobacco control policies. In current smokers, the study factors were each associated with support for two to three policies. To conclude, support for tobacco control policies was weak to moderate in Hong Kong adolescents. SD beliefs, TID beliefs, and harm perceptions of smoking were associated with policy support in current non-smokers. In current smokers, the corresponding associations were less consistent or weaker.


SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824402110063
Author(s):  
MaryJoy Umoke ◽  
Prince Christian Ifeanachor Umoke ◽  
Chioma Adaora Nwalieji ◽  
Rosemary N. Onwe ◽  
Ifeanyi Emmanuel Nwafor ◽  
...  

Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease characterized by acute viral hemorrhagic fever, endemic in West Africa including Nigeria. The study assessed the knowledge and sources of information on Lassa fever infection among the undergraduate students of Ebonyi State University, Nigeria. This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted among a sample of 389 students (18 years above). A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed with SPSS (Version 20), and hypotheses were tested at p < .05 level of significance. Results showed that the majority of the students had good knowledge of Lassa fever description, 232 (60.75%); the signs and symptoms, 221 (57.9%); mode of transmission, 261 (68.41%); and preventive measures, 291 (76.13%). Radio, 23 (84.6%), and television, 307 (80.4%), were their major sources of information. Age ( p = .424), sex ( p = .082), and academic level ( p = .553) were not significant in the study, while faculty (social sciences; p = .000*) was strongly associated with the knowledge of Lassa fever. In conclusion, the overall knowledge of Lassa fever was good among students, though knowledge gaps were observed in the signs and symptoms. We recommend that health education on endemic diseases in the state be made a compulsory course as a general study (GST) in the university. Also, the internet, social media, and campus campaign be further used to educate and sensitize students on the effect of Lassa fever.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44
Author(s):  
Koawo Edjah ◽  
Francis Ankomah ◽  
Ebenezer Domey ◽  
John Ekow Laryea

AbstractStress is concomitant with students’ life and can have a significant impact on their lives, and even how they go about their academic work. Globally, in every five visits by patients to the doctor, three are stress-related problems. This study examined stress and its impact on the academic and social life among students of a university in Ghana. The descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed. Using the stratified and simple random (random numbers) sampling methods, 500 regular undergraduate students were engaged in the study. A questionnaire made up of Perceived Stress Scale and Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale was used to gather data for the study. Frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), with AMOS were used for the analyses. It was found that majority of the students were moderately stressed. Paramount among the stressors were academic stressors, followed by institutional stressors, and external stressors. Stress had a significant positive impact on the academic and social life of students. It was concluded that undergraduate students, in one way or the other, go through some kind of stress during the course of their study. It was recommended that the university, through its Students’ Affairs, and Counselling Sections, continue to empower students on how to manage and deal with stress in order to enhance their academic life.


Author(s):  
Christina N. Wysota ◽  
Marina Topuridze ◽  
Zhanna Sargsyan ◽  
Ana Dekanosidze ◽  
Lela Sturua ◽  
...  

Background: Perceived harm, social influences, smoke-free policies, and media exposure have been understudied in relation to tobacco-related attitudes/behaviors in aggregate or in low and middle-income countries; thus, this study examined these factors collectively in relation to smoking-related outcomes among Armenian and Georgian adults. Methods: Using 2018 cross-sectional survey data (n = 1456), multivariable regression analyses examined these factors in relation to smoking status, perceived harm among nonsmokers, and readiness to quit and past-year quit attempts among smokers. Results: Significant predictors (p < 0.05) of current smoking (27.3%) included lower perceived harm, more smoking friends, and fewer home and vehicle restrictions. Among nonsmokers, more home and restaurant/bar restrictions, fewer vehicle restrictions, greater anti-tobacco media exposure, and less pro-tobacco media exposure predicted greater perceived harm. Among smokers, greater perceived social acceptability of smoking, less anti-tobacco media exposure, and greater pro-tobacco media exposure predicted readiness to quit (12.7% of smokers). More smoking friends, more home restrictions, less anti-tobacco media exposure, and greater pro-tobacco media exposure predicted past-year quit attempts (19.2%). Conclusions: Findings support the importance of smoke-free policies but were counterintuitive regarding the roles of social and media influences, underscoring the need to better understand how to address these influences, particularly in countries with high smoking rates.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 00155-2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Hansen ◽  
Reiner Hanewinkel ◽  
Matthis Morgenstern

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between exposure to electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) advertisements and use of e-cigarettes, combustible cigarettes and hookahs.A cross-sectional survey of 6902 German students (mean age 13.1 years, 51.3% male) recruited in six German states was performed. Exposure to e-cigarette advertisements was measured with self-rated contact frequency to three advertising images. Multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression models were used to assess associations between exposure to e-cigarette advertisement and use of e-cigarettes, combustible cigarettes and hookahs (ever and past 30 days).Overall, 38.8% of the students were exposed to e-cigarette advertisements; ever-use of e-cigarettes was 21.7%, of combustible cigarettes was 21.8% and of hookahs was 23.2%, and poly-use of all three products was 12.4%. Exposure to e-cigarette advertisements was positively related to ever and past 30-day use of e-cigarettes, combustible cigarettes, hookahs and combined use.We concluded that a considerable number of German teenagers are exposed to e-cigarette advertisement. There was a clear exposure–behaviour link, indicating that advertising contact was associated with different kinds of “vaping” and also smoking behaviour. Although causal interpretation is not possible due to the cross-sectional design, findings raise concerns about the current tobacco control policies.


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