Date of Award

Spring 5-21-2016

Document Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscript

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Karen Macauley, PhD, DNP, FNP-BC, GNP-BC

Second Advisor

Karen Sue Hoyt, PhD, FNP-BC, CEN, FAEN, FAANP, FAAN

Third Advisor

Jacqueline Gamboa, PsyD

Abstract

Background

Tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable disease and death in the U.S. Nearly all tobacco users begin using tobacco by 26 years of age. In a Southwest university, 9% of students smoke tobacco. This project evaluated a university-wide tobacco-free initiative by reviewing students’ use of tobacco cessation services following a tobacco-free policy implementation. This project also reviewed students’ tobacco use following campus tobacco cessation counseling.

Methods

A smoke and tobacco-free campus policy was implemented in August 2015. The Student Wellness Center provided free tobacco cessation services to all students. Each tobacco cessation counseling session lasted a minimum of 30 minutes. Records of students who used the tobacco cessation services 5 months before and after the tobacco-free policy implementation were reviewed.

Results

Students did not use the campus tobacco cessation counseling services prior to the tobacco-free policy implementation. Following the policy implementation, 7 students used the services. Among these students, 6 had a decrease in their tobacco use after using the campus tobacco cessation services.

Conclusion

The number of students using the campus tobacco cessation services increased after the implementation of a tobacco-free campus policy. Tobacco cessation counseling, with or without pharmacotherapy, is effective overall in helping students decrease or quit their tobacco use. Student wellness centers are important source of student assistance in tobacco cessation.

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