FEASIBILITY OF SCHOOL-BASED SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAMS

This study obtained input from Australian student smokers approximatel y 15 years old, which may be useful in designing school-based smoking cessation programs. The sample was analyzed by previous quitting exper ience and intentions to quit. The order of preference for assistance o ptions and incentives for quitting was similar across all groups; howe ver those who previously attempted to quit (previous quitters) and tho se who intended to quit (intenders) in the future were significantly m ore likely than non-quitters and non-intenders to find assistance opti ons for quitting acceptable. The potential for saving money emerged as an important variable in convincing all groups of smokers not to smok e, and using personal willpower and cutting down slowly were identifie d as important in actual attempts to quit. The need for programs to be free and for friends to be supportive also was evident across all gro ups.