Barriers and Facilitators to Smoking Cessation Among University Students: A Scoping Review

Farhan Alanazi, Walid Jumaa Mohamed Mohamed, Stathis Th. Konstantinidis and Holly Blake ()
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Farhan Alanazi: School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
Walid Jumaa Mohamed Mohamed: School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
Stathis Th. Konstantinidis: School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
Holly Blake: School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: University students are a vulnerable population for smoking initiation and continuation, often facing unique challenges in accessing cessation support. This scoping review aimed to map the existing literature on the barriers and facilitators to smoking cessation among university students using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Following the JBI methodology, six studies conducted in the United States, Jordan, and Qatar were included, employing both qualitative and quantitative designs. A total of 22 barriers and 20 facilitators were identified and mapped across relevant TDF domains. Key barriers included time constraints, financial limitations, low self-efficacy, and social smoking norms. Facilitators included access to flexible, low-cost interventions, peer support, and previous quit attempts. Digital interventions were preferred by students. The findings suggest that smoking cessation strategies targeting university students should be flexible, affordable, and embedded within campus health systems. Interventions that combine behavioral support, peer involvement, and accessible technology show strong potential in addressing the multifaceted barriers faced by this population. This review provides a theory-informed foundation for the development of tailored smoking cessation interventions and identifies key directions for future research.

Keywords: public health; health promotion; university students; smoking cessation; scoping review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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