BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization estimates that 1.3 billion people worldwide use tobacco products, resulting in 8 million annual deaths globally. Current Irish data from 2024 highlights a smoking prevalence rate of 17% and an 8% prevalence for e-cigarette use. Despite legislative developments in limiting the tobacco industry's influence, the impact on the university setting level is underreported despite the growth of national and international student registrations. In 2023, one Irish university reported occasional smoking prevalence rates of 21% and e-cigarette use at 55%. Despite national tobacco control policy developments, limited data exists on this health-promoting setting. This study aimed to establish tobacco control baseline data to progress healthy campus developments.
METHODS: Following ethical approval (LS-C-24-235-Segurado), a cross-sectional survey was undertaken from October 2024 to January 2025 to measure rates of active smoking, e-cigarette use and exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) among students attending a large urban university. A convenience sample of students was recruited to complete an in-person electronic survey instrument via scanning a QR code on their phones.
RESULTS: Preliminary results are reported from a sample of N= 278 respondents. Smoking prevalence was 20.8% (n= 58), comprising 4.3% daily smoking, 13.3% social smoking, and 3.2% occasional smoking. E-cigarette use was 7.2% (n=20). 24.1% of students (n=70) report exposure to SHS at least once per week. 20.8% of participants were actively trying to quit, with 18.7% in the contemplative stage.
CONCLUSIONS: University campuses are not only spaces for learning but are essential ecosystems that can promote health and empower diverse communities, including students, visitors, and employees. Despite prohibitive tobacco control policies locally [indoors and outdoors smoke free bans on campus] these results indicate opportunities to enhance initiatives. Consistent activities are required if Ireland is to achieve a 5% target for smoking prevalence rates by 2030 and leave no one behind.