Changing the Social Norm: Effectiveness of Smoking Bans

Purpose: Nurses have a responsibility to promote health and prevent illness within their communities by helping to change the social norm of cigarette use. On July 1, 2015, Eastern Michigan University implemented a policy to make its campus tobacco-free, joining colleges across the United States. Currently, there are at least 1,475 U.S. colleges and universities that are 100% smoke-free campuses (American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, 2016).  Social policies against cigarette use have become more prevalent in recent years, including university campuses, hospital campuses, restaurants, and requiring mandatory tobacco-screenings for healthcare workers. This research will analyze previous studies of the impact these policies have on smoking rates in surrounding communities. This data will be compared with the effects of the smoking ban at Eastern Michigan University. The research will then be used to determine whether smoking bans are effective in lowering smoking rates.

Methods: This research will analyze previous studies on smoking bans and their effects on the community in which they are implemented. Such studies include: mandatory tobacco screening for healthcare employees, university campuses, hospital campuses, and restaurants. It will also provide original research using the results of an online survey sent to faculty and students at Eastern Michigan University regarding the effects of the smoking ban.

Results: Results are not yet determined. Research is ongoing, and data collection is expected to be completed in March 2016. This study predicts that smoking bans, such as the one implemented at the college campus in this study, have a direct effect on lowering cigarette use in surrounding areas.

Conclusion: The research will determine whether smoking bans are an effective way to lower smoking rates in their surrounding community. This research has an impact on nurses due to their commitment to promote health and prevent illness in the community, therefore helping to change the social norm of cigarette use.