Attitudes regarding cigarette smoking addiction and related factors in healthcare students: a cross-sectional study

Background Cigarette smoking is a significant public health concern with extensive implications for future health outcomes. This study aimed to examine attitudes regarding cigarette smoking addiction and to identify factors associated with these attitudes.Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted with students of vocational school of healthcare (n=389) in Turkiye. Data was collected with the descriptive characteristics form, The Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence, attitudes towards smoking addiction scale (ASAS), and Live Free-Tobacco Free smoking compliance survey. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple binary logistic regression.Results ASAS mean scores of the students were 49.64±12.87 (range 28-88). The multiple binary logistic regression analysis revealed that age (β = −.635, OR = .53), sex (female vs male β = −1.190, OR = 0.30), and attitudes regarding the implementation of smoke-free airspaces (β = 0.125, OR = 1.13) were significant predictors of attitudes regarding smoking addiction. The model was statistically significant (Omnibus Test of Model Coefficients = 20.93, p < .001), and explained 24.5% of the variance (Nagelkerke R² = 0.245).Conclusion Students’ attitudes regarding smoking addiction were significantly associated with age, sex and their perceptions of smoke-free airspace implementation. These insights are crucial for developing targeted smoking cessation interventions that consider age- and sex-specific differences in attitudes and behaviors.