[BE smokeFREE--evaluation of an intervention program for smoke-free schools]

Abstract

Background: We present an evaluation of school-based intervention aiming at smoke-free schools (BE smokeFREE). The intervention programme was developed by the Norwegian Cancer Society.

Material and methods: A large-scale field experiment (initial n = 4,215) was carried out among lower secondary school students, starting in 8th (age 15) grade during the school year 1994/95. Schools were allocated to four groups: Control (A), a model intervention which included involvement of parents as well as courses for teachers (B), intervention identical to B but with no courses for teachers (C), and intervention identical to B but with no involvement of parents (D). Questionnaire surveys were administered four times (baseline and three follow-up surveys). A total of 19 school hours were used for the intervention, which took place in grades 8, 9, and 10.

Results: Changes in smoking frequency (daily, weekly, more seldom, non-smoker) and number of cigarettes smoked per week were used as end-point measures. Changes in smoking habits were markedly more favourable among students in model intervention schools than among students in control schools.

Interpretation: Carefully planned school-based intervention contributes to reduced smoking among adolescents.