Adolescent occasional smokers, a target group for smoking cessation? the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study, Norway, 1995-1997.
BACKGROUND
Adolescent smokers are often unsuccessful in quitting and difficult to retain in cessation programs. In health promotion, focusing on the right target groups is essential. Aim. The aim was to examine if adolescent occasional smokers differ from daily smokers, and if possible differences could be useful for targeted smoking cessation programs.


METHODS
Ninety-one percent of all teenagers attending junior high or high schools participated in a cross-sectional study, conducted in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway, 1995-1997, including 8,460 students 13-18 years old. Information on smoking habits, education, after school activities, and parents was obtained by self-administered questionnaires.


RESULTS
Fifty-four percent of boys and 57% of girls had tried at least one cigarette. Of these, 36% of boys and 41% of girls were current smokers, half of whom reported occasional smoking. Students who had quit smoking had more often been occasional than daily smokers. Compared to daily smokers, occasional smokers participated in higher academic courses, were more engaged in organized activities and sports, had been drunk less often, and had better family role models.


CONCLUSIONS
Differences support potential utility of focusing on occasional smokers as a special target group in smoking cessation programs.
Holmen
T L
TL
National Institute of Public Health, Community Medicine Research Unit, Verdal, Norway. verdalfh@online.no
Barrett-Connor
E
E
Holmen
J
J
Bjermer
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000639:trends*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors