Title
Does a smoking prevention program in elementary schools prepare children for secondary school?
Author
Crone, M.R.
Spruijt, R.
Dijkstra, N.S.
Willemsen, M.C.
Paulussen, T.G.W.M.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2011
Abstract
A smoking prevention program was developed to prepare children in elementary school for secondary school. This study assessed the effects on smoking in secondary school. Methods: In 2002, 121 schools in The Netherlands were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The intervention group received 3 lessons in 5th grade of elementary school and a second 3 lessons in 6th grade. The control group received "usual care". Students completed 5 questionnaires: before and after the lessons in 5th and 6th grade and in the first class of secondary school. At baseline, 3173 students completed the questionnaire; 57% completed all questionnaires. Results: The program had limited effect at the end of elementary school. One year later in secondary school significant effects on behavioral determinants and smoking were found. The intervention group had a higher intention not to smoke (β= 0.13, 95% confidence interval = 0.01-0.24) and started to smoke less often than the control group (odds ratio = 0.59, 95% confidence interval = 0.35-0.99): smoking increased from 2.5% to 3.6% in the intervention group and from 3.2% to 6.5% in the control group. Girls showed the largest differences in smoking between intervention and control condition. Conclusions: A prevention program in elementary school seems to be effective in preventing smoking. © 2010 Elsevier Inc.
Subject
Human
LS - Life Style
BSS - Behavioural and Societal Sciences
Health
Adolescents
Prevention
Smoking
Transition
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:d84964be-b5e9-4bab-8df7-7ae13b083fc0
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2010.11.003
TNO identifier
426209
ISSN
0091-7435
Source
Preventive Medicine, 52 (1), 53-59
Document type
article