Ten-year follow-up of the Oslo Youth Study Smoking Prevention Program

Abstract

Background: The Oslo Youth Study was designed to demonstrate that health education in schools can result in lowered rates of smoking and alcohol consumption, improved eating patterns, and increased physical activity. The study was conducted from 1979 to 1981 in six schools in Oslo, Norway. This article presents the 10-year follow-up outcomes of the Oslo Youth Study Smoking Prevention Program.

Methods: In the fall of 1989, former Oslo Youth Study participants were contacted through the mail and asked to complete a short questionnaire containing questions regarding smoking behavior. A total of 796 subjects participated (participation rate of 74.0%).

Results: Overall, there were no significant effects of the Oslo Youth Study Smoking Prevention Program on the onset of experimental smoking (ever having smoked) or regular smoking (weekly smoking). Significant intervention effects were observed, however, among baseline nonsmoking males; intervention students reported 30% less weekly smoking (35% vs 50%) and 25% greater nonsmoking status (58% vs 44%) in 1989 than did males having attended the reference schools. No treatment effects were observed for females.

Conclusions: The results suggest that the smoking prevention program might have contributed to reduced long-term onset of smoking among participating male subjects.