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Smoking in Ontario schools: does policy make a difference?

Angela H Reitsma¹, Steve Manske

¹Health Studies & Gerontology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario. reitsmah@mcmaster.ca

Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne De Sante Publique

|June 12, 2004

Summary

Strong enforcement of school tobacco control policies effectively prevents adolescent smoking in elementary schools. However, this approach is less effective in secondary schools, suggesting a need for policy modification.

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Area of Science:

Public Health
Adolescent Health
Tobacco Control

Background:

School tobacco control policies show promise in preventing adolescent smoking.
Canadian research on this association is limited.
This study examines the link between school tobacco policy and smoking in Ontario schools.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess the statistical association between school tobacco control policies and smoking status in Ontario elementary and secondary schools.
To investigate the effectiveness of school tobacco control policy in preventing adolescent smoking uptake.

Main Methods:

Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the School Smoking Profile questionnaire.
School policy variables derived from student perceptions of tobacco control policies.

Related Experiment Videos

Logistic regression models used to analyze the relationship between policy variables and self-reported smoking status, validated by carbon monoxide testing.

Main Results:

In elementary schools, stronger perceived enforcement of tobacco control policies was associated with reduced odds of smoking (OR = 0.39).
In secondary schools, policy enforcement lost its protective effect (OR = 1.05), and strong perceived rules correlated with increased smoking (OR = 1.32).

Conclusions:

Effective enforcement of school tobacco control policies is beneficial in elementary schools.
Current enforcement strategies may be less effective or counterproductive in secondary schools.
Secondary school policymakers should reconsider sanctions to better engage adolescent smokers.