Faculty-Perceived Barriers and Benefits to Teaching Tobacco Cessation

Aim. The study explored nurse faculty beliefs regarding patient tobacco use and the promotion of patient tobacco cessation. The second aim explored perceived barriers and benefits in teaching baccalaureate students about patient tobacco use and cessation. Background. Nurse faculty have a role in ensuring that graduates entering the nursing profession are knowledgeable, skillful, and have the self-efficacy needed to take action regarding patient tobacco use and cessation. Method. Four 90-minute focus group interviews were taped, transcribed, and analyzed. Results. Two major themes were identified: barriers and opportunities. Barriers included a knowledge deficit about patient tobacco use and cessation, which lagged behind published evidence. Opportunities included perceptions that providing patient tobacco cessation should occur throughout the nursing process during nurse-patient interactions. Conclusion. Nursing faculty development regarding patient tobacco use and cessation needs to occur as well as the development and dissemination of curriculum resources.