Smoking prevalence and attitudes toward tobacco among student and staff nurses in Niigata, Japan

Preparing nurses to intervene in the tobacco epidemic: Developing a model for faculty development and curriculum redesign

As the largest group of health professionals, nurses have a tremendous potential to help curb the tobacco epidemic. However, studies conducted across a range of global settings continue to indicate that both practicing nurses and nursing student have limited knowledge, skills and confidence needed to implement evidence-based tobacco cessation interventions. A contributing factor is the limited inclusion of tobacco control content in nursing curricula. Additionally, there is limited understanding of nurse educators' knowledge and perceptions about teaching tobacco dependence content. This paper presents the Loma Linda University School of Nursing's concurrent experience with both faculty development and curriculum redesign in the area of tobacco dependence prevention and treatment. An internal survey was administered at baseline and at 2-year follow-up to assess faculty's knowledge, perceptions and practices related to teaching tobacco dependence content and skills (n = 42). Faculty and curriculum development strategies and resources utilized, evaluation findings and subsequent lessons learned are described. The findings have implications for nursing programs seeking to enhance their curricula and commitment to ensuring that their graduates are prepared to provide evidence-based tobacco cessation interventions with each patient they encounter.

An international review of tobacco smoking research in the nursing profession, 1976-2006

Tobacco smoking represents a contentious issue in the nursing profession, and one that has now become an important topic in nursing research. Despite this fact, the epidemiological quality of research varies widely, and it has been difficult to accurately determine the true incidence of smoking among nurses. Given these inconsistencies, we conducted a state-of-the-art review to identify international trends in tobacco usage among nurses, to ascertain how the epidemiological quality of research has improved over the past 30 years, and also to elucidate the directions in which nursing research has evolved. A total of 73 English-language studies that met the inclusion criteria were located and analysed. Overall, our review suggests that, while tobacco smoking among nurses appears to be decreasing in many countries during recent years, the international trend is far from uniform, and some developed nations still report high smoking rates among their nursing staff. From a methodological perspective, the relative epidemiological quality of smoking research has also fluctuated over time, making it difficult to compare the results of one study to the next. Despite these caveats, tobacco smoking remains a key topic in nursing research, as well as a critically important occupational-health issue for the entire nursing profession. In order to make the next generation of tobacco research data as comparable as possible, future scholars should consider devising and implementing a standardised format for conducting international tobacco smoking research within the nursing profession.

Assessing the Impact of Nationwide Smoking Cessation Interventions among Employed, Middle-Aged Japanese Men, 2005-2010

Background

A variety of tobacco control interventions have become available in Japan over the past decade, however, the magnitude to which they have impacted on smoking rates may have varied by socioeconomic status such as job content, particularly for middle-aged men who were formerly long-term smokers. We conducted a longitudinal study to investigate the differences between smoking cessation strategies among a national sample of middle-aged Japanese employed men between 2005 and 2010.

Methods

Data was extracted from a previous longitudinal survey of middle-aged and elderly people that had been conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. In 2005, 16,738 Japanese men aged 50–59 years were recruited and sent a questionnaire in each year of the study. We analyzed data for individuals who reported being current smokers at baseline. Cox’s discrete time proportional hazard regression analysis was used to examine potential associations between smoking cessation and socioeconomic factors.

Results

Of the 6187 employed, male smokers who participated in 2005, 31% subsequently quit smoking during the 5-year follow-up period. Those working in manufacturing, transportation, or security were less likely to have quit smoking than those working in management. Having no marital partner, never having been married, or those experiencing psychological distress were significantly less likely to have quit smoking during this time.

Conclusions

Although almost one-third of middle-aged, male smokers quit their habit between 2005 and 2010; the uptake of this national strategy appears to have been far from uniform across Japanese society. Socioeconomic factors such as occupation, marital status and psychological distress were negatively correlated with quitting, suggesting that these groups should be more aggressively targeted in further interventions.

[Smoking behavior, knowledge, and attitudes towards anti-smoking regulations of nursing students in Sousse, Tunisia]

BACKGROUND

Smoking prevalence has reached high rates among health professionals. Our study aimed to assess smoking behavior, knowledge and attitudes towards anti-smoking regulations of nursing students.

METHODS

In 2013, we conducted a cross-sectional study among nursing students enrolled in private and state nursing institutions of Sousse (Tunisia).

RESULTS

In our study, 440 students were selected. The mean age was 22 ± 2 years. The sex ratio was 0.65. The prevalence of smoking was 20.6%. It was significantly higher in men than women (50% vs 4.5%, P < 10(-3)). Strong dependency was noted in 9%. One-third of smokers stated they wanted to quit smoking. Prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to minors and smoking in enclosed public places were the two most mentioned anti-smoking regulations.

CONCLUSION

Our rate was lower than those reported in the literature. This result should encourage policymakers to continue actions and ensure sustainability.

[Do we teach the smoking cessation intervention to future nurses? Result of a descriptive study]

Introduction :

Les infirmières qui ont reçu une formation en cessation tabagique ont tendance à intervenir davantage auprès des fumeurs que celles qui n’ont pas été formées. Il est démontré qu’une intervention même très brève conduit à une diminution de la prévalence du tabagisme. Or, les programmes qui préparent à l’exercice de la profession infirmière laissent actuellement peu de place à la formation en cessation tabagique. Les objectifs de la recherche sont de décrire les pratiques d’enseignement de la cessation tabagique dans les programmes de formation infirmière et de comparer en tenant compte de la formation en cessation tabagique reçue par les professeures.

Méthodologie :

Un devis descriptif-comparatif a été choisi.

Résultats :

Au total, 278 professeures (20,8 %) ont répondu à un sondage en ligne effectué à l’aide d’un questionnaire validé. Celles-ci avouent offrir en moyenne une heure en cessation tabagique par année. Les aspects physiopathologiques sont couverts au détriment de l’intervention professionnelle en cessation tabagique. Les obstacles identifiés par les professeures sont le manque de temps, de connaissances et de pertinence avec le cours enseigné. Seulement 11,9 % des sujets mentionnent avoir reçu une formation spécifique en cessation tabagique. Or ce sont ces dernières qui enseignent davantage d’éléments reliés à l’intervention en cessation tabagique.

Conclusion :

Une meilleure intégration de l’intervention en promotion de la santé, incluant la cessation tabagique, dans la formation initiale devrait amener la future infirmière à réaliser davantage d’interventions personnalisées en cessation tabagique.

Teaching Smoking Cessation to Future Nurses

Smoking cessation strategies are barely discussed in nursing education programs, even though initial education shapes how future professionals practice their profession. The aim of this research is to describe the practices, attitudes, and beliefs of nursing educators of Quebec with regard to smoking cessation strategies in initial nursing education. A descriptive design was chosen along with an online questionnaire. A total of 278 educators (20.8%) participated in the survey. Although educators recognize the importance of incorporating smoking cessation strategies into their teaching practice, they allocate an average of only one hour per year to the topic. Tobacco use is addressed mostly in terms of risk factors, with little focus on how to help patients quit. The perceived obstacles are related to false beliefs and a lack of knowledge. The results of this study demonstrate the need to raise educators’ awareness of the importance of incorporating smoking cessation strategies into classroom teaching.

Nursing education and beliefs towards tobacco cessation and control: a cross- sectional national survey (GHPSS) among nursing students in Greece

BACKGROUND

Within the healthcare system, nurses have the ability to influence their patients' smoking habits through counselling. Therefore, it is of great importance to appropriately train health professionals on smoking cessation strategies with the aim to help them provide advice to their patients. In light of the above, the objective of this study was to assess the association between Greek nursing students' beliefs towards tobacco control/smoking cessation and the professional training received.

METHODS

During February 2009, we conducted a cross sectional national survey among all 3rd year nursing students of the two university based nursing departments in Greece (University of Athens, University of the Peloponnese). The Global Health Professional Student Survey (GHPSS) questionnaire was applied and following written informed consent 73% provided a completed questionnaire (n = 192/263 enrolled students).

RESULTS

Overall, 33% were current active smokers, while 74% reported ever to experiment smoking. In regards to their beliefs towards tobacco control policies, non smokers were more positive in regards to banning smoking in restaurants (94% vs. 61%, p < 0.001), in bars and cafes (82% vs. 34%, p < 0.001), and all public places (93% vs. 51%, p < 0.001) when compared to current smokers. In comparison with students who had not received training on the importance of asking patients about their smoking habits, those that did were more likely to believe that nurses should have a role in smoking cessation and should act as role models for their patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Resources should be invested in improving the quality of undergraduate education in nursing departments in Greece with respect to tobacco control and smoking cessation.

Smoking habits of students of nursing: a questionnaire survey (2004-2006)

AIM

To determine changes in the prevalence of tobacco use among students of nursing and associated factors.

BACKGROUND

The prevalence and distribution of smokers among nursing students varies according to the country and period of study.

METHOD

Transversal descriptive study by self-answered questionnaire. Eight hundred and fifty four subjects (94.9%) were questioned in the period 2004-2006.

FINDINGS

Twenty eight percent of the students declared themselves to be smokers. The habit began before the students started university. The tendency of prevalence by year of survey and by graduation year was downward. The students shown a low nicotine dependency according to Fagerström and little motivation to give up. The average age at the onset of consumption was 14.6 (1.8) years. From the logistical regression analysis, the model best explaining the prevalence of tobacco consumption included the variable of year surveyed and academic background, those coming from the baccalaureate showing a lesser prevalence and tendency to smoke.

CONCLUSIONS

Tobacco consumption among students of health sciences was less than in the general population of the same age but high given their future profession. The tendency to smoke is decreasing and most started smoking before joining the university. We recommend an intensification of actions directed at teenagers and the promotion of anti-tobacco campaigns in universities.

Spanish primary health care nurses who are smokers: this influence on the therapeutic relationship

AIM

To identify the perception of Primary Health Care (PHC) female nurses in the Balearic Islands in Spain who are smokers, regarding the suitability of their anti-smoking therapeutic relationships with their clients. Also, to identify what factors they consider may determine why nurses smoke less in PHC than in specialized care (SC).

BACKGROUND

Backed by the signing of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), a new Anti-Smoking law has been in force in Spain since 2006. This legislation limits the places where tobacco may be consumed. PHC nurses, because of their professional abilities, their number and their direct contact with society on all accounts - both health- and illness-wise - and also because of the proven efficacy of their interventions in the fight against the smoking habit, are called upon to play an important role against the smoking habit in the 21st century.

METHOD

A qualitative study using a semi-structured interview with 15 PHC female nurses who are smokers.

FINDINGS

Regarding the therapeutic relationship, basically two attitudes are adopted: first, blaming themselves and feeling uncomfortable and inadequate to be able to help someone to give up smoking or, second, considering themselves to be in an optimum situation in which to be able to help by sharing their addiction and thereby understanding and empathizing much more with clients. PHC nurses believe they smoke less than SC nurses as a result of a greater degree of awareness.

CONCLUSION

We would suggest that SC nurses should acquire a more relevant role in the fight against the smoking habit. In light of their capacity, commitment and efficacy, we believe there is a case for total autonomy as far as their role as therapists in breaking smoking habits is concerned.

Tobacco smoking habits among a complete cross-section of Australian nursing students

This study was undertaken as a complete cross-sectional survey of tobacco smoking habits among 270 undergraduate students at an Australian nursing school (response rate: 84.6%). An anonymous, self-reporting questionnaire survey was used to gather the data. The overall prevalence of current smoking was 15.9%, with a further 8.5% being ex-smokers. The nursing students consumed an average of 11.5 cigarettes per day, they began smoking at 20.8 years of age, and had an average smoking duration of 7.2 years. The students who had previously worked as a nurse were twice as likely to be current smokers. This study suggests that although tobacco smoking remains fairly common among Australian nursing students, its prevalence and distribution vary according to the individual demographics of the group under study. Future researchers will need to consider the changing demographic base from which the new generation of nursing students are drawn.

A systematic review of tobacco smoking among nursing students

This study was conducted to systematically and critically evaluate the large number of academic publications which have investigated tobacco smoking among nursing students in recent years. It was performed as a state-of-the-art examination of all modern literature published in peer-reviewed, English-language journals since 1990. Although smoking appears to be fairly common among nursing students, its prevalence and distribution varies widely depending on the country of study and time period during which the research was undertaken. Although there is some evidence to suggest that smoking rates increase by year of study in the nursing course, not all research has shown a clear association in this regard. Similarly, the value of anti-smoking interventions for nursing students appears to be limited, based on currently available information. Given these conflicting issues, further research which helps to ascertain why student nurses do not wish to give up their habit is clearly needed both locally and internationally. The development of an international smoking questionnaire may also be useful to help standardize future research on tobacco usage among this vulnerable demographic.