Judith Rausch

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine predictors of smoking behavior for the senior student nurses in the state of Alabama using Ajzen and Fishbein's Theory of Reasoned Action. Smoking prevalence by level of educational preparation and selected health behaviors were examined for relationship to cigarette use.

A sample of 11 schools of nursing were selected from Alabama's 34, using a random numbers table. There were 13 total programs as two of the schools had both A.D. and B.S. nursing programs. Thirty-two percent (N=555) of senior A.D., B.S. & diploma students nurses in Alabama responded to an 87 item questionnaire personally administered by the investigator in a classroom setting.

The hypothesis was supported that behavioral, normative and moral beliefs significantly differentiate smoking and non-smoking student nurses. Beliefs that significantly differentiated at p < .00005 were: that smoking cigarettes would help be relax, to study better, be harmful to my lungs, would mean that I am a poor role model to patients, would interfere with my ability to participate in sports, would hurt my image as a nurse and would ease the stress related to nursing practice. Varimax rotation produced factor loading which identified three factors found to be significantly correlated to attitude. These were labeled anxiety, emeplar role and concerns about personal health.

Health behaviors predicting smoking behavior were breakfast frequency and coffee consumption. Having a regular exercise routine was not significant. Males smoked significantly more than females. More older nurses (over 40) smoke than younger.

Though there was no significant difference of smoking prevalence among educational levels there was a tread for increased smoking from B.S. to diploma level with prevalence from the total sample 26.2%, diploma level 30%, A.D. 26% and B.S. 24%

These findings are interpreted in terms of developing educational strategies addressing specific beliefs and behaviors found here to be predictive of cigarette use. This information should alert nurse educators to the need for developing curriculum elements that promote health behavior of student nurses.

School

School of Health

First Advisor

Jerry W. Lee

Second Advisor

Ruth Margaret White

Third Advisor

Joyce W. Hopp

Fourth Advisor

Grenith J. Zimmerman

Degree Name

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

1985

Date (Title Page)

3-8-1985

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Smoking -- psychology; Students, Nursing; Behavior

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

vii; 157

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Download

Share

COinS