Clinical Nurses’ Contributions and the Effectiveness of Hospital-Based Smoking Cessation Programs: A Descriptive-Correlational Study in Selected Hospitals of Sultan Kudarat

This quantitative research analyzed the impact of hospital-based smoking cessation programs and the vital role clinical nurses play in selected hospitals across Sultan Kudarat. The study sets out to evaluate nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices, measure patient outcomes from structured interventions, and uncover the barriers and facilitators to successful implementation. To achieve this, the study gathered insights from 100 registered nurses with at least three years of direct experience in patient education, behavioral support, and counseling. Utilizing a descriptive-correlational design, data from structured questionnaires were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, weighted means, and Pearson r correlation. The findings reveal that nurses make a profound difference when they actively engage patients through tailored education, counseling, and motivational support. This dedicated approach significantly boosts patient awareness of smoking risks, inspires a genuine desire to quit, and helps prevent relapse. Ultimately, this research underscores how formal smoking cessation programs create a powerful, dual benefit: they empower patients on their journey toward better health, while simultaneously elevating nurses and equipping them with the knowledge and autonomy needed to make confident clinical judgments and drive collaborative healthcare decisions.