The Effect of Motivational Interviewing on Smoking Behavior Among Nursing Students

Smoking is one of the leading preventable public health problems worldwide, particularly among young adults who are at increased risk of nicotine dependence. Nursing students represent an important target population because, as future health professionals, they are expected to play a significant role in tobacco control and smoking cessation counseling. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) is one of the most widely used theoretical frameworks for promoting health behavior change. The aim of this study will be to determine the effect of Transtheoretical Model-based motivational interviewing on changing smoking behavior among nursing students. This study will be planned as a single-group, quasi-experimental pretest-posttest intervention. Nursing students who smoke cigarettes and voluntarily agree to participate will be included in the study. At baseline, participants will complete a Demographic Information Form, the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, the Stages of Change questionnaire, the Self-Efficacy/Temptation Scale, the Processes of Change Scale, and the Decisional Balance Scale. Participants will receive Transtheoretical Model-based educational sessions and motivational interviewing interventions focusing on the health effects of smoking, reasons for smoking, the benefits of smoking cessation, identification of social support resources, relapse prevention strategies, and successful smoking cessation experiences. The Stages of Change questionnaire will be administered before each motivational interviewing session, and all outcome measures will be reassessed during follow-up evaluations. The study is expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of Transtheoretical Model-based motivational interviewing in reducing smoking behavior, decreasing nicotine dependence, promoting progression through the stages of change, improving self-efficacy, enhancing the use of behavioral change processes, and supporting smoking cessation among nursing students.