Learning Objectives: -Become familiar with the ASCENT curriculum -Learn about challenges encountered in conducting the evaluation -Examine the preliminary evaluation data
Abstract: The Adolescent Smoking Cessation Escaping Nicotine & Tobacco (ASCENT) is a youth smoking cessation program developed by Danya International, Inc., with funding from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA). ASCENT is based on cognitive learning theory and the stages of change continuum. It was developed for ages 14 through 18, and presents quitting as a process. Youth were involved in the development process, allowing the motivational video and curriculum to be specifically tailored to their needs, including a number of exercises, activities and role plays to get the teens involved in the sessions. The intervention includes a six session curriculum, training manual, teen workbook, motivational video entitled The Last Drag, First Step, facilitator’s video and website that is currently being developed. Currently, ASCENT is being evaluated in the Maryland school system to determine the efficacy of the program in the target population. The goal of this outcome evaluation is to determine if the curriculum and video has an effect on smoking behavior, progression through Stages of Change, knowledge, and intentions regarding smoking. The evaluation will involve measuring these outcomes at various points in time: prior to the first session, after some of the sessions of the ASCENT curriculum, 30 days after the final session, and 6 months and 1 year after the final session of the curriculum. We would like to provide an overview of the ASCENT program, present key parts of the curriculum, discuss the evaluation design and challenges involved in conducting the evaluation and present preliminary evaluation data.
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