Geschlechtsbezogene Analyse des Tabakkonsums bei Auszubildenden in Pflegeberufen.

Aim: Both the percentage of smokers and number of women among the nursing professions is disproportionally high. In this study we test whether male and female nursing students differ with regard to their smoking behavior, smoking-related risk factors, and attitudes toward behavioral and environmental measures. We compare nursing students and employees to determine whether a high smoking rate can be observed already at the beginning of the nursing career. Method: Within the framework of a controlled intervention study, we tested baseline questionnaire data of 357 nursing students for gender effects. The rates reported by a representative survey with nursing employees were then compared to the students' rates. Results: Gender differences were observed with regard to risk factors but not with tobacco use and preparedness to change. Resistance efficacy was higher among female students. Men who smoked perceived fewer smokers among their colleagues, tended to judge smoking as more compatible with the nursing profession, and were more willing to utilize a smoking-cessation group format. In general, nursing students (52.8% smokers) had a 1.5 times higher risk of smoking compared to their employed colleagues. Conclusions: Because of a potentially selective sampling procedure, the results should be interpreted cautiously. However, they point to the fact that there is a need for tobacco intervention among both female and male nursing students since about half of them are smokers even at the beginning of nurse training. An intervention should comprise behavioral and setting-related components. Its implementation faces the challenge of a currently smoking-supportive educational context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]