:: Microbiology Course Impacts
Students' Smoking Habits ::
May 2007: During the Spring 2007 semester, students in Assistant Professor Wilmore Webley's Biology of Cancer & AIDS course (Microbio 160) were polled about their smoking habits. At the start of the semester a total of 47 students smoked regularly. After a series of lectures on smoking and the dangers it poses to their health, 27 students were able to kick the smoking habit. Another 8 students were trying to quit.
Biology of Cancer and AIDS is the largest class taught in the Department of Microbiology, with an enrollment of approximately 470 students each semester.
With this overwhelming response, Webley intends to make smoking cessation a permanent part of the class each semester. This will entail regular support
group meetings and availability of relevant support material from the American Lung Association and the National Cancer Institute.
Here is feedback Dr. Webley received from some of his students:
Some students were able to kick the habit:
"I did have a cigarette occasionally if I was out with people who smoked or if I was tempted to have one. After the lecture on smoking I have no desire to smoke cigarettes anymore. I have always seen it as a disgusting habit but now I can't even bear to be around someone who has just smoked a cigarette. Now that I know the risks and how terrible they are they don't tempt me in any way."
"This class has definitely helped me a lot with smoking and just made me realize why it is completely stupid and pointless. It also really pointed out all of the dangerous health risks and all the other complications and problems that can result from it".
"I quit because I just realized that there's really no point in doing it anymore. It was just a danger to my health and that's about it.
"I was a social smoker prior to the start of this class and have certainly quit that habit relatively easily".
"I used to smoke, on occasion. It has never been a daily thing, more of a social thing. Since this class I've been avoiding putting myself in social situations where I might feel a bit of pressure to join others when they smoke. All of the risks and dangers that come along with it, especially since there is a history of breast and prostate cancer in my family, truly scare me. Whenever I talk about classes with my friends I always describe this course as not only a class but it's almost a lifestyle change. I've been eating healthier, wearing sunscreen everyday, and trying to remove toxins from my diet and social habits."
"I used to smoke, but after taking this class I would not want to smoke ever again because many of my friends smoke all the time and this class always comes to mind reminding me of the dangers of smoking. The risk for cancers goes up significantly if you are a smoker. I never really understood the reason for smoking but the only reason I did it was because my peers did it. I learned from this class that all you're doing is hurting your body slowly by creating a greater risk of potential cancers. All these people that I see around me smoking regularly remind me of this class and make me say to myself, “Only if they knew.”
"I don't smoke cigarettes, but used to smoke cigars every once and a while. After attending your class, that is definitely something I can go without in order to stay healthy. Thanks for everything and good luck with all your research and future endeavors".
"When I got to school I used to smoke a lot and have about half a pack a day. This class has made a large impact on my smoking habits. I have also encouraged my girlfriend to quit smoking and have got her down to 3 cigarettes a day. This class has definitely played a role in my smoking habits".
"I am a smoker. I have smoked for over a year now. I've always known that smoking causes cancer. However, I never new the statistics behind this statement. This class has truly opened my eyes to my need to quit. That is why I have set up a quit date of this Sunday". [This student has since quit smoking completely and is smoke free for 2 months now]
"...I used to smoke although not frequently. This course has given me so much feedback as to why it is a huge risk to smoke and the symptoms and lifestyle that go into smoking. Taking this information in, I now do not smoke and always encourage my friends to stop because it is not worth dying at an early age when your life could be extended".
"I actually did smoke for a while and I honestly do not know why. I guess it was kind of a curiosity thing where I wanted to see what it was like and why people liked it so much. I smoked for about a year and actually quit about two months ago. I just realized that there's really no point in doing it anymore. It was just a danger to my health and that's about it. This class has definitely helped me a lot with smoking and just made me realize why it is completely stupid and pointless. It also really pointed out all of the dangerous health risks and all the other complications and problems that can result from it."
There are also people trying to quit as a result of taking the class:
"Personally, I am a smoker, and as everybody knows, cigarettes are very addictive. However, I must say that taking this class has greatly diminished the amount of cigarettes that I have daily. I went from a pack a day, to sometimes not even having a cigarette at all throughout the day. Taking this class has greatly made me reconsider my future. I really want to quit, but it is very hard. Sometimes I feel that I can do it, but when I have a drink of wine, or a very hefty meal, all I can think about is that one cigarette and how good it would feel to have it. I am working on this, and I hope that I will soon overcome my cigarette addiction."
"As to the question as whether I smoke or not, yes I do. And this class has gotten me on the way to quitting. I used to smoke a pack a day and now I am down to like 4-5 cigarettes a day. Soon enough I am completely getting rid of them.'
Even for the non-smokers the class helped to prevent them from starting and assisted them in raising awareness among family members and friends:
"I do not smoke but I have learned so much about the risks of smoking, and I have been able to inform friends of mine about smoking and their risks".
"I do not smoke and thanks to this class I will never start smoking. The slide on smoking and cancer shocked me. I cannot believe they put all of those poisons in a cigarette."
"I am not a smoker, but I recently helped my parents, smokers of 20 years, quit smoking. I showed them some of the notes from class and I got on their case about paying five dollars for a pack of cigarettes. Then, to my delight they decided to quit."
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