Michele Montecalvo, Brother Gregory Cellini, Marlina Reid, Maryanne Santos, Stephanie Thomas, Kathleen Szuhany, Mackline Cezar, Abdul Dosunmu, Ashley Edwards and Shivana Persaud
PHASE I Objective: To examine the attitudes, beliefs and knowledge about tobacco among individuals on an urban college campus. Participants: Urban College based sample of 487 students, faculty, staff/administrator and visitors in Brooklyn Heights, New York. Methods: The principal investigators recruited participants using an Institutional Review Board exempt pen and paper survey. The participant’s responses were transcribed using Microsoft Access and analyzed by the principal investigators to find trends. Results: The survey data indicated that while some participants (144) were bothered by smoking on campus, most (340) favored the implementation of a designated smoking area. The data was used to gain insight into the attitudes, beliefs and knowledge about smoking on an urban college campus. Conclusion: The survey data played a key role in the campus administrators’ decision-making about campus smoking policy. Despite administrators’ concerns regarding campus safety and freedom of choice, the student-led research can be used to influence policy change.
PHASE II Objective: To examine how students can help college administrators and tobacco control advocates by voicing their opinion about tobacco control policies. Participants: Urban College based sample of 402 students, faculty, staff/administrator, and visitors in Brooklyn Heights, New York. Methods: The principal investigators recruited participants using an Institutional Review Board exempt pen and paper survey. The participant’s responses were transcribed using Microsoft excel and analyzed by the principal investigators to find trends. Results: The survey data indicated that some participants (136) have never seen the location of the respectful smoking community and (292) participants were unsure if they received an email regarding the new respectful smoking location. Conclusion: The survey data played a key role in the campus administrators’ decision-making about campus smoking policy. Despite administrators’ concerns regarding campus safety and freedom of choice, the student-led research can be used to influence policy change.
