Determining the Effect of Video-Supported Education on Students Regarding the Harmful Effects of Smoking on Smoking Cessation

Background: This study aimed to determine the effect of video-supported education on university students regarding the harmful effects of smoking and the importance of quitting on smoking cessation. Methods: The research was conducted as a descriptive and dependent group pretest post-test experimental study between March 1 and June 1, 2023. The study initially reached 98 smoking students before the education. After the education, 21 of these students were reached again. Results: Of the students participating in the study, 53.1% were female, 46.9% were male, with an average age of 20.82 ± 0.208. The average age of starting smoking was found to be 16.24 ± 0.251. It was determined that 74.5% of the students smoked less than one pack a day, 24.5% smoked one pack a day, and 1% smoked more than two packs a day. There was no significant difference between the students’ smoking cessation success prediction score averages before (31.047 ± 9.744) and after (33.619 ± 9.080) the education ( t = −1.664, p = .112). However, a significant difference was found between the average scores of the smoking cessation scale according to the health belief model before (63.600 ± 14.503) and after (69.600 ± 12.296) the education ( t = −2.257, p = .036). Conclusion: The video-supported education on the harmful effects of smoking and the importance of quitting had no effect on the prediction of individuals’ smoking cessation success, but it was found that the education improved the levels of health belief regarding smoking cessation.