[Evaluation in school anti-tobacco programmes]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Promotion
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Tobacco use remains a significant public health concern among children and young people.
• Effective school-based programs are crucial for tobacco use prevention.
• The National Research Institute of Mother and Child (NRIMC) has developed specific anti-tobacco initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the NRIMC's school anti-tobacco programmes.
• To evaluate these programmes based on Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and other effective interventions.
• To introduce a conceptualized evaluation model for school anti-tobacco programmes.

Main Methods:

• Review of NRIMC school anti-tobacco programmes.
• Comparison with CDC guidelines and other successful school-based tobacco prevention programmes.
• Analysis of a novel evaluation model encompassing process and outcome evaluation.

Main Results:

• The NRIMC programmes are designed with general objectives tailored to different educational levels.
• Strategic recommendations for programme implementation have been elaborated.
• A unique evaluation model is presented, detailing planning, design, and evaluation procedures.

Conclusions:

• The NRIMC evaluation model provides a clear framework for designing and assessing school anti-tobacco programmes.
• This model can be adapted and applied to other health promotion initiatives.
• The programmes and evaluation model contribute to efforts in preventing tobacco use among youth.