EFFECTS OF A SCHOOL-BASED SMOKING PREVENTION PROGRAM AMONG SUBGROUPS OF ADOLESCENTS

In autumn 1995 The Norwegian Cancer Society in cooperation with The Re search Center for Health Promotion, University of Bergen started a stu dy of school-based interventions aiming at preventing smoking among pu pils in Norwegian secondary schools. The study comprised a nationwide sample of 4441 students at 99 schools (195 classes). This panel of stu dents is followed through annual data collections till they graduate i n spring 1997, Written consensus from students and parents was obtaine d from 95%. Schools were systematically allocated to one of four group s: Group A, control; Group B, intervention, containing classroom progr am, involvement of parents and teacher courses; Group C, like B, but w ithout teacher courses; Group D, like B, but without parental involvem ent. Baseline data were collected by questionnaires administered in cl ass in November 1994 and the first follow-up survey was carried out in May 1995, At follow-up the proportion of smokers had increased by 8.3 percentage points in Group 4 (control) and by 1.9 percentage points i n Group B (most extensive intervention). As expected, the recruitment of smokers was higher in Groups C and D than in the ideal intervention , but lower than in the control group, Effects of the most extensive p rogram among subgroups of students were examined by comparing Groups A and B. Students are categorized as high risk or low risk based on sco res on scales measuring sensation seeking, physical maturity, antisoci al behavior and parental smoking. The effect of the program on recruit ment of smokers seems to have been at least as strong or even stronger among 'high-risk' students than among other students.