Why school tobacco bans fail: staff engagement in enforcement in Belgian schools

Abstract

Tobacco control bans are only as effective as their enforcement, and schools are a critical though often overlooked frontline. School tobacco policies (STPs) frequently fail when staff hesitate to act. This study aimed to measure and explain staff engagement in STP enforcement using a newly developed scale. Staff members (n = 624) from 18 Belgian secondary schools took part in the ADHAirE study. Building on previous qualitative studies, we constructed a 10-item scale to assess staff willingness to enforce the STP. We used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify key attitudinal dimensions underlying the scale and conducted multilevel analyses to assess factors that predict enforcement. Participants scored high on willingness to enforce the rules (2.89, range 1–4). EFA revealed two key attitudinal dimensions, each explaining 20% of the variance: the perception that enforcement is a professional role, which was widely endorsed, and sharedness of rules, for which there was less adherence: only half of the participants felt supported by parents, and 40% believed tobacco control was not a school priority. Notably, enforcement was predicted by the perception that rules are enforced by one’s colleagues and the sense that the rules are justified. Bans are likely to be enforced if they are perceived as part of the staff’s professional role and are shared among the school community. Effective enforcement of school smoking bans requires a shared commitment that integrates school staff, leadership, and parents. The validated scale offers a tool for school principals or health authorities to assess that alignment.