Preventing smoking in college students through online learning in a fitness and wellness course

Smoking rates in college students (ages 18-22) range from 30 to 37% indicating the need to educate students about smoking. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an online learning module focused on increasing knowledge about the negative effects of smoking in college students. Participants, students enrolled in fitness and wellness courses, completed a demographic questionnaire and a ten question pre-test before viewing a fifteen-minute presentation about the dangers of smoking and completing the same post-test. A series of repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted using a variety of between-subject factors [gender, year in college, smoking status (non-smoker/social smoker/smoker), status as a varsity athlete (athlete/non-athlete), and major (health-related/not health-related)]. Each ANOVA used time (pre/post) as the within-subject factor and was performed to evaluate knowledge gains. Data were also evaluated to find the frequency that smokers agreed the learning module encouraged them to quit smoking. Twenty one percent (110) of the 510 survey completers identified themselves as smokers or social smokers. An overall time effect was observed (pre-test score 4.9±1.3, post-test score 7.2±2.1). Significantly greater knowledge gains were found in non-smokers (2.1±2.2) than in smokers (1.1±2.2). Females (2.3±2.3) had significantly greater knowledge gains than males (1.5±2.2). Notably, the majority of participants who smoked (64.7%) either strongly agreed (29.3%) or agreed (35.4%) the module encouraged them to quit smoking. Although the module led to significant knowledge gains in participants, the more substantial improvement for non-smokers indicates the module may be more useful in prevention rather than intervention efforts.