A group-randomized tobacco trial among 30 Pacific Northwest colleges: results from the Campus Health Action on Tobacco study

Abstract

Introduction: We conducted a group-randomized trial to increase smoking cessation and decrease smoking onset and prevalence in 30 colleges and universities in the Pacific Northwest.

Methods: Random samples of students, oversampling for freshmen, were drawn from the participating colleges; students completed a questionnaire that included seven major areas of tobacco policies and behavior. Following this baseline, the colleges were randomized to intervention or control. Three interventionists developed Campus Advisory Boards in the 15 intervention colleges and facilitated intervention activities. The freshmen cohort was resurveyed 1 and 2 years after the baseline. Two-years postrandomization, new cross-sectional samples were drawn, and students were surveyed.

Results: At follow-up, we found no significant overall differences between intervention and control schools when examining smoking cessation, prevalence, or onset. There was a significant decrease in prevalence in private independent colleges, a significant increase in cessation among rural schools, and a decrease in smoking onset in urban schools.

Discussion: Intervention in this college population had mixed results. More work is needed to determine how best to reach this population of smokers.

Figure 1.

Prevalence changes by college type and treatment arm.

Figure 2.

Quit rates by setting and treatment arm.

Figure 3.

Onset by setting and treatment arm.