Smoking Prevalence and Awareness Among Undergraduate and Health Care Students
Holly E. R. Morrell PhD,
Lee M. Cohen PhD,
Jared P. Dempsey PhD,
Holly E. R. Morrell PhD
Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Lee M. Cohen PhD
Department of Psychology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Texas Tech University, Department of Psychology, Box 42051, Lubbock, TX, 79409-2051. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorJared P. Dempsey PhD
Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs, Institute of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
Search for more papers by this authorHolly E. R. Morrell PhD,
Lee M. Cohen PhD,
Jared P. Dempsey PhD,
Holly E. R. Morrell PhD
Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Lee M. Cohen PhD
Department of Psychology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Texas Tech University, Department of Psychology, Box 42051, Lubbock, TX, 79409-2051. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorJared P. Dempsey PhD
Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs, Institute of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Approximately 10,000 undergraduates from 12 Texas colleges and universities and 350 health care students completed a Web-based survey assessing the prevalence and awareness of cigarette smoking. There were few differences between health care and undergraduate students on trying smoking or quitting smoking. Health care students reported lower rates of current smoking than undergraduate students, even though both groups demonstrated similar knowledge of tobacco-related health risks. Gender differences are discussed. Findings suggest that tobacco awareness programs should continue to target young adults as an at-risk population, and that health care training programs should place a greater emphasis on tobacco cessation.
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