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Evaluation of a self-directed smoking prevention and cessation program
P E Higgs1, D Edwards, R E Harbin
1Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Pediatric Nursing
|May 25, 2002
Summary
The Breathe Easy! smoking prevention program showed a significant reduction in youth smoking rates at 6-month follow-up. While 1-month results were not significant, the program demonstrated promising trends for smoking cessation and prevention.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Youth smoking remains a significant public health concern.
- Effective prevention and cessation programs are crucial for adolescent well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the "Breathe Easy!" youth smoking prevention and cessation program.
- To assess program impact on smoking prevalence at 1-month and 6-month follow-ups.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental design comparing intervention sites with control sites.
- Surveys administered pre-program and 1 or 6 months post-program.
- Analysis included 251 intervention and 159 control subjects completing both surveys.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in smoking prevalence between groups at 1-month follow-up.
- A statistically significant decrease in smoking prevalence in the intervention group at 6-month follow-up (18.7% to 8.9%).
- The control group showed no significant change in smoking prevalence at 6-month follow-up (14.1% to 9.4%).
Conclusions:
- The "Breathe Easy!" program shows potential for significant youth smoking cessation at 6-month follow-up.
- Further research is warranted to confirm long-term efficacy and explore contributing factors.
- The program may offer a viable strategy for reducing adolescent smoking rates.