Impact students counseling program on ther knowledges and attitudes about smoking

ABSTRACT

The size of smoking problem is big enough to be considered a warning of an impending epidemic. Colleges should have a greater role in health education for the students girls, therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of counseling program on their know ledges and attitudes about smoking. This study was conducted on 30 students Girls in Saudi Arabia Kingdom during the first trimester of the Academic year 2005-2006. Tools of data collection were; the socio-demographic characteristics sheet, knowledge assessment questionnaire, students attitudes toward smoking and the developed counseling program. All these tools were applied before counseling sessions as a pre-test and after sessions as an evaluating test, Results of the study revealed statistical significance difference between pre and post counseling about smoking, the study concluded that the improvement in student's knowledge and attitudes about smoking after the counseling session, the study recommended that The onset of smoking in the students girls is alarming. This is of immense the importance of formulating health education strategies, which should be directed towards students, teachers and parents, the religious education should be the corner stone for any organized tobacco control activities. Students need family members able to comprehend their problems and to have therapeutic communication skills to help them recover and prevent relapse. Psycho-social nurses need to be actively involved in directing resources and talents toward public awareness and tobacco prevention programs, formulating public policy initiatives to control youth access to tobacco, and initiating cessation programs for youth, their efforts can be targeted at the schools, colleges and community and health care system. The spread of smoking, especially among women, should be target at schools and universities as the majority picks up the habit before the age of 20 years in Saudi Arabia