Learning Objectives: Describe the intervention components used to decrease rates of smoking among Texas high school students.
Abstract: Measurable Learner Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to: · Describe the components used to decrease rates of smoking among Texas high school students.
Problem/Objective
Texas allocated funding to reduce smoking among high school students that resulted in the development of a pilot study consisting of media campaigns, community programs, and the school curriculum, Teens Against Tobacco Use. Cessation intervention was developed to test effects of differing program options on rates of smoking cessation among selected high school students in East Texas.
Methods
Students in the comprehensive areas received low-level or high-level media interventions. Low-level media intervention consisted of a tobacco cessation newsletter containing role model stories from college-aged students who are former smokers. High-level media intervention consisted of the tobacco cessation newsletter and tobacco cessation television and radio advertisements. Some students were exposed to school and law enforcement programs. Approximately 15,436 students received intervention.
Results
Analyses revealed 1066 students received the high media comprehensive program design and 14370 students either received the low media comprehensive program design or did not receive the combined program activity. The intervention was effective in producing significant smoking cessation attempts among high school students in comprehensive program design areas. Significant effects on cessation rates were found in comprehensive areas with high media exposure.
Discussion
The results provide evidence that a smoking cessation intervention can be effective in producing significant quit attempts among high school students, especially where combined activities are implemented. It is reasonable to assume that higher levels of media exposure provided additional reinforcement of smoking cessation messages that students received in school, the community, and law enforcement.
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