[C-U Smokefree] New Anti-smoking Teen Advocacy Study

[Theotskl at aol.com]

FYI.

Keep up the good work.

Theo

1: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004 Mar;158(3):269-75. 

  
Effects of an advocacy intervention to reduce smoking among teenagers.

Winkleby MA, Feighery E, Dunn M, Kole S, Ahn D, Killen JD.

Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, 
Palo Alto, CA, USA.

OBJECTIVES: To test whether high school students' participation in advocacy 
activities related to the advertising, availability, and use of tobacco in 
their communities would prevent or reduce their own tobacco use. DESIGN: Ten 
continuation high schools in northern California, randomly assigned to a 
semester-long program in which students either carried out advocacy activities to 
counter environmental-level smoking influences in their communities (treatment) or 
learned about drug and alcohol abuse prevention (control). PARTICIPANTS: 
Eleventh and 12th grade high school students; 5 (advocacy) treatment and 5 control 
schools over 4 semesters from 2000 through 2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 
Self-reported smoking defined as nonsmokers (those who had never smoked tobacco or 
those who were former smokers), light smokers (those who smoked <1 pack per 
week), or regular smokers (those who smoked >or=1 pack per week), and confirmed by 
carbon monoxide level readings. The following 3 constructs related to social 
cognitive theory- perceived incentive value, perceived self-efficacy, and 
outcome expectancies-were assessed. RESULTS: There was a significant net change 
from baseline to the end of the semester (after the intervention) between 
treatment and control schools for students who were regular smokers, but not for 
students who were nonsmokers or light smokers. Regular smoking decreased 3.8% in 
treatment schools and increased 1.5% in control schools (P<.001). Regular 
smoking continued to decrease at 6 months after the intervention in treatment 
schools, with a total change in prevalence from 25.1% to 20.3%. Involvement in 
community-advocacy activities and the 3 social constructs-perceived incentive 
value, perceived self-efficacy, and outcome expectancies-also showed significant 
net changes between treatment and control schools (all P values <.01). 
CONCLUSION: Student engagement in community-advocacy activities that addressed 
environmental influences of cigarette smoking resulted in significant decreases in 
regular smoking.
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