Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, the attendees will be able to list three ways the Florida State University Smoking Cessation Program effectively mets the needs of college students.
Abstract: The 2000 Harvard Study indicates that the rate of smoking by Florida State University students has steadily increased over the last decade, with over 30% of FSU students smoking cigarettes in the last 30 days and 45% in the last year. In response to the long-term health care implications posed by these figures, FSU has developed a successful smoking cessation program that is offered to all registered students. The cessation program, which is an outgrowth of the state-supported comprehensive tobacco control initiative, is administered by the Thagard Student Health Center.
In order meet the program goal, “to increase prevalence of tobacco cessation,” funds were designated for the purchase of smoking cessation aids, including nicotine gum, nicotine patches and Zyban. Two professional staff, both trained as smoking cessation facilitators, provide weekly one-on-one sessions with interested students. The students are evaluated for readiness to quit and asked to demonstrate their level of commitment through a series of exercises prior to being approved for cessation aids. In addition to web and telephone based cessation resources, the students are provided with ongoing support and encouragement.
The program has managed to offer cessation facilitation to 61 students in the past 5 months alone. Twenty-eight (46%) of these students reported that they had quit as of March 1. Despite this success, much work remains to increase the number of students involved and maintain quit rates for the long term. Once new practice guidelines are completed, additional staff members will be trained and efforts made to promote the program to the student body.
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