Australian students' preferences for school-based smoking cessation programs

Estimates of daily smoking as high as 15 percent by Year 10 students (average age 15) suggest there is an urgent need to focus attention on the formulation of school-based cessation programs for young smokers, as an adjunct to existing prevention focused programs which serve the majority of young non-smokers. The purpose of this study was to gather recommendations from student smokers (in the middle high school years, about 15 years of age) which may be used in the design of school-based smoking cessation programs. This study investigated the opinions of 2865 smoking and nonsmoking Year 10 students drawn from twenty-one metropolitan high schools in Brisbane, Australia. The majority of students, including smokers, were supportive of school-based smoking cessation programs. Smokers reported a preference for the program to be voluntary, to be accessible during school time, and facilitated by other students or non-teaching personnel. A clear preference for individualized attempts to quit over more structured or group programs was evident. The majority of smokers reported that they preferred to quit on their own. They, however, also recognized the value of assistance from a supportive friend or being in a group of students who helped one other. In general, male and female students expressed the same preferences regarding methods of quitting. Males, however, appeared more difficult to motivate and more skeptical of quitting programs. Specific ideas for identifying students who may have higher support needs when quitting are provided.