Learning Policy by Making It: Nursing students promote smoke-free campus policy

Background: To address Alaska Native youth smoking disparities, University of Alaska nursing students partnered with the State Health Department and Leadership for Eliminating Alaskan Disparities to improve campus smoking policy.

Methods: Students analyzed representative campus policies, assessed campus attitudes, and evaluated implementation of current campus smoking policy. Enlisting a policy “champion,” nursing students assessed feasibility for policy change, drafted a new policy and advanced it for consideration by University policy committees.

Results: evaluation revealed poorly implemented and enforced policy, allowing smoking 20 feet from doorways and enforced by building occupants. A student/faculty survey found 69% were aware of current policy, 41% knew of designated smoking areas, and 13% observed smoking outside them. 33% of respondents were bothered “a lot” by campus smoking. 76% were supportive of tobacco-free policy, if cessation services were provided. 86% of those surveyed were non-smokers. Students found a similar political environment, with a vocal minority of University leaders opposed to regulation, and a majority supportive of restrictive policy.

Conclusions: Working with the state, community partners, and University policy committees, students compiled representative data, assessed feasibility, and drafted and advanced revised smoking policy. They included evidence-based recommendations appropriate to the cultural and political environment of the institution, included implementation and feasible enforcement strategies, an educational plan, and smoking cessation services. Faculty provided strategic coaching for survey development, IRB approval, data analysis, political/procedural navigation, and dissemination of findings. Students successfully influenced campus policy while learning how policy is made, reflecting the efficacy of learning policy by making it.