University students' and staff attitudes toward the implementation of a "tobacco-free" policy: A view from Qatar
| Author | Al-Jayyousi, Ghadir Fakhri |
| Author | Shraim, Mujahed |
| Author | Hassan, Diana Alsayed |
| Author | Al-Hamdani, Mohammed |
| Author | Kurdi, Rana |
| Author | Hamad, Noor Ahmed |
| Author | Abdul Rahim, Hanan F. |
| Available date | 2024-05-19T11:23:06Z |
| Publication Date | 2024 |
| Publication Name | Preventive Medicine Reports |
| Resource | Scopus |
| Identifier | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102605 |
| ISSN | 22113355 |
| Abstract | Objectives: Tobacco-free campus policies are needed to create environments conducive to prevention or quitting in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), where the use of various tobacco products is on the rise among university students. The objectives of this study were to assess overall support for a 100% tobacco-free campus policy and its predictors among different stakeholder groups at the largest national university in Qatar and to understand attitudes towards specific policy components. Study design: A cross-sectional online survey of faculty and students. Methods: We measured sociodemographic variables, tobacco use, and support for components of a 100% tobacco-free campus policy. A total score for support was calculated, and associations with selected predictors were assessed using multivariable linear regression. Results: 413 respondents participated in the survey. A majority of faculty/staff and students (76.6% and 75.5%, respectively) supported the implementation of a 100% tobacco-free campus policy, with a majority supporting extension of the policy beyond cigarettes. Support for other components of the policy varied. Among students, overall support was lower among males and tobacco users and higher among the married. Among faculty and staff, support was lower among Qatari nationals and tobacco users. Conclusion: In the context of a growing tobacco crisis in the EMR, implementing and understanding the impact of tobacco-free campus policies is essential. This paper underscores the importance of addressing diverse stakeholder attitudes and providing empirical evidence to guide policy implementation and evaluation. |
| Sponsor | We acknowledge the support provided by the Institutional Research and Analytic Department at Qatar University in the sampling and data collection process. Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library. The study was reviewed and approved by the Qatar University Institutional Review Board (Research Ethics Approval No is QU-IRB 1620-E/21). This work was supported, in part, by the American Cancer Society Tobacco-Free Generation Campus Initiative Grant (ACS # 64331). GFA-J: conceptualization of the study, questionnaire design, proposal and IRB writer/ approval recipient of the larger project which this study is part of, sampling design and data collection, statistical analysis and manuscript drafting; MSH: conceptualization of the study, questionnaire design, sampling design, and statistical analysis; DAH: conceptualization of the study, questionnaire design, manuscript drafting, editing and critically revising the manuscript; MA-H: Drafting the manuscript; RK: Drafting the manuscript; NH: Statistical analysis, and drafting the manuscript; HFAR: grant writer/recipient; conceptualization; questionnaire design, manuscript drafting and critical review, submit to the journal and respond to reviewers. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript. |
| Language | en |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Subject | Attitudes Eastern Mediterranean Region Health policy Health-promoting campus Tobacco-free Youth |
| Type | Article |
| Volume Number | 38 |
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