Influence of a University Tobacco-Free Policy on the Attitudes, Perceptions of Compliance, and Policy Benefit Among the University Students: A Pre-Post Investigation

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a university tobacco-free policy by examining differences in students’ attitudes, perceptions of compliance and policy benefits, after one year of the policy’s implementation.Methods: Cross-sectional studies were undertaken to collect data pre- and 1 year post-policy implementation. The two samples were selected using stratified random sampling.Results: The prevalence of smoking decreased from 26% pre-policy implementation to 21% 1 year after (p = 0.035). The proportion of smokers who thought the policy had contributed to a reduction in smoking frequency increased from 10% to 70% (p < 0.001). Smokers’ support for the policy rose from 42 to 58% (p = 0.007).Conclusion: Against the background of a strongly pro-tobacco environment in Lebanon, it is possible to create a positive change in the mindset of smokers at the levels of the education and smoking cessation and more efforts should be expended to bring it about.

Public support for smoke-free policies in outdoor areas and (semi-)private places: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…1 ). 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 ,…”

“… 54 , 105 , 118 Thirty-six reports assessed public support for policies that were already implemented ( Appendix IV ), among which five were introduced at the national level: smoke-free cars with children or pregnant women in Italy 82 ; a smoke-free prison policy in Scotland 37 , 114 ; and a smoke-free public housing act in the USA. 88 , 121 In the remaining thirty-one studies support for local smoke-free policies was assessed regarding university or college campuses, 31 , 35 , 38 , 41 , 52 , 76 , 84 , 97 , 109 , 127 school grounds, 40 , 113 hospital grounds, 40 , 59 , 80 , 117 , 122 playgrounds, 45 , 113 parks and beaches, 28 , 54 , 73 , 94 , 107 , 111 , 118 multi-unit housing, 44 , 46 , 70 and outdoor gathering places such as streets. 28 , 32 , 98 …”

Changes in tobacco and e-cigarette consumption in Spanish university students during the COVID-19 lockdown: Identification of vulnerable groups

“…Healthy campuses 1 , 2 are an example of how universities can be organized as health promoting agents 3 through their structures. Tobacco control policies aimed at tobacco-free campuses are effective in reducing on-site consumption 4 , 5 and are increasing in popularity over time 5 - 7 . Likewise, the training of health-promoting agents among university students, who subsequently participate in awareness-raising and information activities, has also shown promising results 8 .…”