Factors Influencing Utilization of Menthol Based Inhalers among Student Nurses

Abstract

The use of menthol-based inhalers among student nurses to alleviate nasal discomfort, fatigue, and stress during academic and clinical activities remains an underexplored area in nursing research. The study investigated which factors determined nursing students' usage of menthol-based inhalers by examining their personal characteristics and environmental factors. A descriptive–correlational research design was utilized. Data were collected through modified self-administered questionnaires distributed using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Ethical approval was obtained prior to data collection to ensure the protection of participants’ rights and confidentiality. Findings revealed that nursing students experienced moderate levels of academic stress, alongside high levels of perceived comfort, medical benefits, and exposure to the clinical environment. Inhaler use was moderate and primarily situational, commonly associated with headaches, fatigue, and environmental discomfort. Significant positive correlations were identified between inhaler use and academic stress, as well as between perceived medical benefits and clinical exposure. Among these variables, perceived medical benefits emerged as the strongest predictor of inhaler utilization. The results demonstrate that personal beliefs together with environmental factors both work to determine how nursing students use their inhalers. The findings demonstrate that healthcare professionals need to learn safe evidence-based self-care methods which they should practice throughout their professional careers. The publication expands existing knowledge about menthol-based inhaler use by describing how nursing students use self-care methods to manage their clinical duties and academic pressure. The findings from the study will help create educational programs that nursing schools should implement through their educational policies.