The Effect of Motivational Interviewing on the Level of Self-Efficacy and Addiction in Smoking Cessation in Nursing Students: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Study

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the effect of motivational interviewing on the level of self-efficacy and addiction in smoking cessation in nursing students. Background: It is important for nursing students to be informed and supported about quitting smoking during their university years, as they will be involved in health services as health professionals. Method: The study was carried out between May 15, 2022, and April 1, 2023, as a single-blind randomized controlled trial study with one experimental and two control groups. The population of the study consisted of nursing students who were studying at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing of two different universities and who smoked, and the sample consisted of 78 nursing students who met the research criteria and accepted to participate in the study. The data of the study were collected using the 'Personal Information Form', 'Fagerstr & ouml;m Nicotine Addiction Test', 'Self-Efficacy Scale' and 'Stage of Change Question'. The nursing students in the experimental group were given face-to-face motivational interviews in the 1st month, online interviews in the 2nd and 3rd months and face-to-face motivational interviews in the 4th, 5th and 6th months. No intervention was applied to the nursing students in the control groups during the research process. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between the pretest and posttest difference values of the 'Self-Efficacy Scale' and 'Fagerstr & ouml;m Test for Nicotine Dependence' of the students in the experimental and control groups (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between the pretest and posttest difference values of the 'Self-Efficacy Scale' and 'Fagerstrom Nicotine Dependence Test' of the students in the control groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: In the study, it was found that the motivational interview applied to the experimental group of nursing students increased self-efficacy and decreased the level of addiction. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT05639699