The effectiveness of school smoking cessation programs amongst adolescents

Abstract

Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable diseases, which presents multiple burdens in all countries (Mackay & Eriksen, 2002). Minary et al. (2009) state that smoking is very commonly initiated in adolescence and this leads to nicotine addiction by early adulthood. Since locally, adolescents attend compulsory schooling, up to the age of sixteen and many of them further their studies, schools are exclusive to implement smoking cessation interventions. A research question using the PICO framework was formulated to assess the effectiveness of school smoking cessation programs amongst adolescents aged 12 to 20 years. PICO question: How effective are school smoking cessation (O) programmes based on behavioural change interventions (I) on smoking amongst adolescents (P)? Full texted systematic reviews and randomised control trials in English language were selected. Interventions had to involve behavioural change sessions and not exceeding ten weeks in duration. Studies including outside schools’ setting, population older than twenty years of age and smoking prevention were excluded. Within the five databases searched 85 articles were researched and nine were adequate for the study according to the criterion formulated. To appraise the methodology of each study, the CASP tools were used followed by a discussion of their ethical issues. Abstinence and reduction of cigarette smoking were the main focus while analysing the results. Therefore it can be concluded that smoking cessation programs are likely to have positive effects on adolescents. However further research would be beneficial, such as comparing intervention including, behavioural change smoking cessation to other cessation therapies (using patches or gums or internet-based programs). It was outlined that school nurses are vital for performing one-to-one sessions for behavioural change. Strengths and limitations of this study were also identified and discussed.