A comparison between instructional experience and performance of teachers and nurses delivering a smoking prevention program

Abstract

This paper focuses on the implementation evaluation strategy of a smoking prevention program and examines differences in instructional experience and implementation of the grade six curriculum in relation to provider type. Arbaseline, nurses (n = 40), compared with teachers (n = 39), reported (a) less previous classroom teaching experience, (b) greater reliance on lecturing and audio/visual materials, (c) less use of small group classroom activities, and (d) less confidence using small group and role playing methods in the classroom. More nurses than teachers believed smoking to be a significant problem in the schools. Nurses had less confidence than teachers in their ability to teach the smoking prevention curriculum. Nonetheless, behavioural observation indicated that nurses implemented the curriculum more completely. However, teachers, at least those who received workshop training, showed some evidence of greater utilization of teaching styles thought to be desirable.