Evaluating the impact of a tobacco-free university policy on student attitudes and tobacco use

Background. Over 300 U.S. colleges and universities have implemented tobacco-free campuses to promote a healthy place to live, work, and learn. The University of Kentucky campus went tobacco-free in 2009 (http://www.uky.edu/TobaccoFree/). Purpose. To evaluate student tobacco-related attitudes and behaviors before and after implementing a tobacco-free policy. Significance. There is little planned evaluation research on tobacco-related attitudes, behaviors and attitudes toward a comprehensive tobacco-free college campus policy before and after policy implementation on a campus in a tobacco-growing state. Methodology. Students aged 18 to 26 were randomly recruited to participate in a two-part computer-based research survey administered in a research lab. After sampling, additional smoking students were enrolled (= 267 smokers, n = 400 nonsmokers). Pre- and post-tests measured students' tobacco use and attitudes toward the campus policy change. Findings/Results. Prior to policy change, 74% of students reported being familiar with the rules and regulations regarding the upcoming tobacco-free campus policy. 61% of students felt that the policy will be successful in reducing people's exposure to secondhand smoke on campus. 36% of students felt that the upcoming tobacco-free policy would be successful with encouraging people at the University to quit using tobacco. These attitudes did not differ by smoking status (p>.05). The second wave of data collection will conclude in May, 2010 and allow for evaluation of the effect of policy change on student attitudes and behaviors. Conclusions/Recommendations. Understanding student tobacco behaviors, experience with tobacco-free policies, and attitudes toward such policies are critical to evaluating tobacco-free campus policy implementation.