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. 2025 Jun 15;17(6):e86098.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.86098. eCollection 2025 Jun.

Effectiveness of a Capacity-Building Session for Nursing Students on Account of World No Tobacco Day in India: A Preliminary Study

Saudamini G More  1 , Akankshi Bhattacharjee  1 , Sujata Pinge  1 , Supriya S Vyavahare  2 , Laresh N Mistry  3 , Sumeet Agarwal  4
Affiliations

Effectiveness of a Capacity-Building Session for Nursing Students on Account of World No Tobacco Day in India: A Preliminary Study

Saudamini G More et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background: Tobacco, being a cash crop in India, its production and consumption is high. Oral cancer, having the prime etiological factor as tobacco, accounts for a substantial number of all cancer cases in India. In order to curb the habit amongst the masses, it is imperative to get the maximum workforce on hand to promote the detrimental effects of tobacco.

Objective: To evaluate the level of knowledge among nursing students about tobacco before and after receiving an intervention in the form of a sensitization lecture about the use of tobacco in India.

Methods: This preliminary study was conducted among a convenience sample of 61 nursing students. A pre- and post-survey questionnaire, comprising demographic details and knowledge about the ill effects of tobacco (eight items), was distributed. The survey questionnaire was tailor-made and validated by five subject matter experts.

Results: The pre-test median was 4.2 (range=1 to 7), and that of the post-test was 4.8 (range=2 to 8). When Student's t-test was applied, a significant difference was observed between the scores (p=0.027).

Conclusion: The level of knowledge was significantly higher after receiving the lecture. Nursing students will be future healthcare professionals. They can act as a channel to educate the population on matters of oral cancer prevention.

Keywords: health promotion; oral cancer; paramedical staff; prevention; public health education.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Informed consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Nursing Ethics Committee for Biomedical and Health Research issued approval BEC/2025/523. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Boxplot depicting the pre-test and post-test scores of participants
Test applied: Wilcoxon signed-rank test P-value=0.027
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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