Comparison and determination of factors associated with smoking status, smoking knowledge, attitude and practice (S-KAP) between smoke-free and non-smoke-free campuses in public universities in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectivesWe compared the smoking prevalence, smoking knowledge, attitudes and practices (S-KAP) between smoke-free campuses (SFCs) and non-SFCs (NSFCs) and determined the associated factors of smoking status and S-KAP.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingsThe research was conducted in four public universities in Malaysia; two SFCs and two NSFCs.ParticipantsStudents and staff from SFCs (n=1063) and NSFCs (n=1040).Main outcome measuresCompared the smoking prevalence, S-KAP between SFCs and NSFCs and determined the associated factors.ResultsThe prevalence of smokers among the SFC and NSFC respondents was 5.2% and 6.7%, respectively. University type and smoking attitude were significantly related (p=0.02). At the SFCs, the factors associated with becoming a smoker were male gender (p<0.001), monthly income ≥RM3000 (p=0.02), positive smoking attitude (p=0.003) and positive smoking practice (p<0.001); at NSFCs, the associated factors were male gender (p<0.001), low smoking knowledge (p=0.004), positive smoking attitude (p=0.001) and practice (p<0.001). The factors associated with good smoking knowledge were female gender (SFCs: p=0.001; NSFCs: p=0.004), and monthly income ≥RM3000 (NSFCs: p=0.02). Male respondents were likely to have positive smoking attitudes (SFCs: p<0.001; NSFCs: p<0.001) and negative smoking practices (SFCs: p<0.001; NSFCs: p<0.001).ConclusionOverall, smoking prevalence, knowledge and practice were not much different between SFCs and NSFCs. However, there was a significant relationship between university type and smoking attitude due to the existence of the SFC policy likely rendering smoking a less acceptable social norm. Continual education programmes on smoking harms and smoking cessation strategies are highly recommended to aid the SFC policy in preventing secondhand smoke in universities.

Assessing the Policy of Non-Smoking Areas in Schools in Indonesia: A Mixed Methods Study

“…Implementing smoke-free zones in the university environment in Muaro Jambi requires support from university leaders. In Malaysia, all campuses have been designated as smoke-free zones, with the need for differentiated approaches between males and females to ensure equal impact of the smoke-free zone policy (Mohmad et al, 2022). Strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the smoke-free campus policy include stricter enforcement by university authorities, intensified promotion to raise awareness about the policy, and providing counseling or smoking cessation clinics to assist with quitting (Mohmad and Ismail, 2021).…”