Health Educators: Role Modeling and Smoking Behavior

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Abstract
This study examined cigarette smoking among health educators, their views about the effects of this behavior upon their audiences and their beliefs about smoking in light of their professional role. Questionnaires (496) were mailed to the membership of a professional health education association. Respondents were asked about smoking practices, the purpose of smoking educational programs, and their views on health educators as role models. Of the 89.7 percent respondents, 57.1 percent were nonsmokers, 32.4 percent were former smokers, and 10.5 percent smoked regularly. Using chi-square analysis, it was found that smokers and nonsmokers were significantly (p < .001) less inclined to feel that the role of health education is to “convince people not to smoke.” Also, smokers were significantly (p < .001) less inclined to indicate that a health educator “should set a good example.”

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