Cigarettes: a growing problem for Taiwanese adolescents.
An alarming number of Taiwanese teenagers continue to smoke despite the adverse health consequences of cigarette smoking. This research review describes the prevalence and onset of smoking behavior among Taiwanese adolescents and analyzes the risk factors contributing to smoking initiation. The findings of this review suggest that health educators need to target high-risk groups before they initiate smoking. High-risk groups are those who have poor school achievement, have an external locus of control, have a prosmoking attitude, know others who smoke, and are from low socioeconomic status families. These risk factors support the need for nurses to implement an effective smoking prevention program for adolescents.
Chen
H S
HS
Department of Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Percy
M S
MS
Horner
S D
SD
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology