Knowledge, attitudes and tobacco use among nursing and physiotherapy students D. Fernández 1 PhD, B. Ordás 2 Degree in Nursing, M.J. Álvarez 1 Degree in Physiotherapy & C. Ordóñez 3 PhD 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, 3 Professor, Department of Toxicology, University of León, 2 Staff Nurse, Division of Nursing, University Hospital of León, León, Spain FERNÁNDEZ D., ORDÁS B., ÁLVAREZ M.J. & ORDÓÑEZ C. (2015) Knowledge, attitudes and tobacco use among nursing and physiotherapy students. International Nursing Review Background: As future health educators, nursing and physiotherapy students will play an essential role in the prevention of smoking. Aim: To determine the prevalence of smoking among students and to analyse their knowledge of and attitudes towards smoking. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using an anonymous questionnaire and conducted in a Spanish Faculty of Health Sciences in 2013. Findings: 247 nursing and physiotherapy students (82.33%) participated in the study. The global prevalence of smoking (18.2%) was lower compare with the general population group of the same age. We have observed statistical significance in relation to previous studies. Nursing and physiotherapy students showed a low nicotine dependence. We found a lack of knowledge about the harmful effects of cigarette consumption on health. Statistically significant results were also found in relation to degree courses (p < 0.01) as regards students’ opinions about their knowledge of strategies and methods to help patients stop smoking. Conclusion: Most students started smoking before commencing their university studies; consequently, interventions should focus on cessation programmes. An analysis of university curricula leading to the award of a degree in the health sciences could serve to identify educational deficiencies in order to implement the necessary modifications. Implications for nursing and health policy: This paper presents an update in tobacco use characteristics amongst nursing and physiotherapy students. Those results have showed a need to improve the curricula in order to develop specific programmes to improve knowledge, attitudes and beliefs. Measures to prevent smoking must be taken at school. Keywords: Attitudes, Beliefs, Cigarette Smoking, Knowledge, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Prevalence Studies, Students Correspondence address: Daniel Fernández, Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of León, Campus de Vegazana 24071, León, Spain; Tel: 0034-987-293080; Fax: 0034-987-293089; E-mail: dferg@unileon.es. No conflict of interest has been declared by the authors. Original Article © 2015 International Council of Nurses 1