Smoking in nursing students: A prevalence multicenter study

The role of nursing students as future health promoters of healthy behaviors is influenced by their attitude towards smoking. A cross-sectional study using a self-administered survey was performed to analyze smoking prevalence among undergraduate the nursing students who attend nursing faculties in 2 European countries (Spain and Portugal) during academic period 2015 to 2016. A total of 1469 subjects were surveyed (response rate of 79.8%). An 80% of the students were female with a mean age of 21.9 (4.8) years. The overall prevalence of tobacco use was 18.9%, with an average percentage of 16.2% in Portugal and 18.3% in Spain. Statistical significance was observed in relation to smoke and previous studies (16.4% vs 27.1%; P < .001). Only 1.1% of the students reported using electronic cigarette. 15.8% of smokers started smoking while at university with statistical gender and previous studies differences (P < .001). Fagerström and Richmond test showed low nicotine dependence (2.8 ± 2) and moderate motivation to stop smoking (4.9 ± 3), respectively. Smoking prevalence among nursing students was slightly higher than the general European population. For that reason, measures to reduce tobacco use have to be focused on students and university policies on tobacco control should be a challenge in the future.