Introduction: Health care professionals have an essential role in tobacco control through supporting tobacco control policy actions by promoting smoke-free workplaces and extending tobacco cessation programs.
Objective: To assess determinants of support for a smoke-free university policy among dental students.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study of dental students was carried out. Multiple linear regression analyses assessed the determinants of support for a smoke-free policy at the university.
Results: A total of 313 students completed the questionnaires. The multivariate model showed a direct relationship of support for a smoke-free university policy with being a nonsmoker [β = 1.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.37–2.52, p < 0.0001] and having greater knowledge of smoking health hazards (β = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.20–0.30, p < 0.0001). We detected an inverse relationship with being a man (β = –0.49, 95% CI = –2.73 to –0.58, p = 0.03) and with increased willingness to accept second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure score (β = –0.02, 95% CI = –0.04 to –0.01, p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: This study found that a policy banning smoking would have support from those students who have knowledge of smoking health hazards and those unwilling to accept exposure to SHS.
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