[Teachers' attitudes toward smoking prevention at schools]

Teenage smoking continues to present a significant public health problem. Children begin to smoke in elementary and middle school, although consumption is highest during university studies. In spite of their limitations, school-based campaigns are the most effective weapons against smoking. Spanish educational authorities have developed an interdisciplinary anti-smoking curriculum for health education. In practice, however, the curriculum is not usually implemented. An understating of teachers' attitudes toward such campaigns can lead to their better design, contributing to greater cooperation and better outcome. We therefore surveyed teachers participating in the School-based Smoking Prevention Plan during 1993-1995. Teachers had a generally favorable opinion of the campaign and wanted to continue it; they were well disposed to cooperate more actively with the physicians who carried it out.