Tobaccofree Campus Initiative: A Quitting Strategy for Kuwait Nursing College Student Smokers Florence E. Omu1, Ismael Al-Kandari1, RabeaAl-Marzouk1,Delleshelen Paulraj1, Manjushambika

Abstract

Background: Smoking cessation involves changing of unhealthy smoking habit which accounts for 63% of global deaths. This study was in response to the United Nations General Assembly Global Forum for Noncommunicable Disease's invitation to nurse researchers to evaluate smoking cessation interventions for their students. Objective: To evaluate "Tobaccofree campus initiative" combined with tobacco cessation interventions as quitting model for student nurses. Methods: This was the second part of a multi-phase study which involved a series of 'No-smoking' campaigns, enforced tobaccofree campus initiative, mandatory weekly monitoring of biological health indicators and biochemical feedback using expiratory carbon monoxide (CO) levels for 36 real cigarette and shisha smokers. The quasi-experiment lasted 10 weeks. Participants' data on tobacco use, quit attempts and self-efficacy (SE) were collected using a 25-item bilingual questionnaire. Counseling and smoking cessation aids for their choice were offered. Results: All the participants lived with their families and 70% of the families smoked cigarette and/or shisha. Previous quit attempts were statistically higher in males than females, 47.2% versus 13.9 % and (U=76.00, P= 0.007). High SE to quit was 36% and the quit rate for the last 4 weeks was 13.9%. Biological health indicators of participants such as pulse rate and systolic blood pressure improved as a result of cessation interventions. Conclusion: CO monitoring followed by counseling were effective smoking cessation interventions.