title: [Can the results of pulmonary function tests and evidence of tobacco-related respiratory symptoms be used to dissuade adolescents from smoking?].
abstract: The purpose of this paper is to review arguments recently used to dissuade youth from smoking, nd to propose new ones based on the results obtained in an epidemiological study carried out between 1978 and 1980 among young people attending school. A questionnaire focused on respiratory symptoms and smoking habits was filled out by 2,269 students between 10 and 19 years of age. Among them, a representative sample of 971 underwent a respiratory function test. Two years later, the students who had shown an impaired respiratory function were again examined--along with a representative control group--using the same protocol. During the first examination, we had found a very meaningful relationship between smoking and respiratory symptoms. MOreover, girl smokers evidenced significantly diminished expiratory flows. The students were informed of the results at the time. When the second examination was carried out, some smokers had increased their cigarette consumption, while others had cut back- and it was the latter group that, during the first examination, had had a significantly higher proportion of symptoms and lower respiratory function values. This suggests that showing proof of the real problems caused by smoking could be used as an element in antismoking campaigns among school-attending youth.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
vernacular_title: Les résultats des tests de la fonction pulmonaire et la mise en évidence des symptômes respiratoires liés au tabac peuvent-ils être utilisés pour dissuader les adolescents de fumer?