Learning Objectives: Describe effective strategies for raising awareness of, maximizing recruitment into, and retaining post-secondary smokers in, effective smoking cessation programs. Identify individuals who have the power to influence decision-makers regarding tobacco control policies/programs on college campuses. Recognize the value of and opportunities for networking with other campuses to enhance resources, expertise, and support for tobacco control on campus.
Abstract: ‘Leave The Pack Behind’ is a comprehensive, evidence-based tobacco control initiative that services 90,000 students at 10 Canadian universities. It includes: a continuous multi-channel communication campaign; ongoing interpersonal outreach through student-staffed displays; and uninterrupted access to smoking cessation interventions (including self-help programs, peer-to-peer support, and clinical interventions at Student Health Services). Last year, 15,000 students accessed LTPB; 3,600 smokers consulted with student-staff; and 5,500 self-help programs were distributed. Nearly 15% of intervention-users quit smoking. Two in five students on participating campuses identified LTPB as a source of support for quitting smoking.
Panelists – a Director of Student Health Services, a Public Health Nurse, a university researcher, and a student – will discuss why and how LTPB trained 80 students to conduct peer-to-peer education, and 100 campus health professionals to administer Clinical Tobacco Interventions. They will explain how active buy-in of university administrators, residence staff and student governments was obtained, thereby placing smoking cessation on campus health agendas.
Describing how similar results can be achieved on any campus, the panelists will present more general research on: social constructs of students’ smoking; strategies to engage all smokers in appealing programs; and ways to retain smokers in those programs. There will be an interactive discussion about how to support policy change on campus, increase referrals to campus health clinics, prepare students for advocate roles, partner with community health agencies, and develop diverse tobacco control strategies specifically for post-secondary campuses.
College physicians, nurses, counselors, administrators, researchers, and students will benefit from this panel presentation.
Back to Leave the Pack Behind: A Comprehensive Initiative for Post-Secondary Smokers on Canadian Campuses
Back to Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs or Combined Strategies
Back to The 2002 National Conference on Tobacco or Health