SAGE Publications, International Quarterly of Community Health Education, 1(29), p. 89-100, 2009
DOI: 10.2190/iq.29.1.g
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This pilot study gauges the smoking rates among college students in Jordan, attitudes toward tobacco policies, knowledge of smoking hazards, and identifies methods of quitting for former smokers. The sample ( n = 296) was taken from students attending a General Education course at the University of Jordan. Results show that the majority of respondents (70.3%) had never smoked, 2.8% were former smokers, while 26.9% were current smokers. For former smokers, the main reported reason for quitting was concern for health (63.6%) and the two methods used to quit smoking were: 1) cold turkey (by themselves) (66. 7%); and 2) cut-down smoking and then quit by themselves (33.3%). In addition, a higher level of knowledge related to health effects of tobacco and a higher need for tobacco-related policies was identified by the former/never smokers. Implications for health education are discussed.