[BE smokeFREE--evaluation of an intervention program for smoke-free schools].
BACKGROUND
We present an evaluation of school-based intervention aiming at smoke-free schools (BE smokeFREE). The intervention programme was developed by the Norwegian Cancer Society.


METHODS
A large-scale field experiment (initial n = 4,215) was carried out among lower secondary school students, starting in 8th (age 15) grade during the school year 1994/95. Schools were allocated to four groups: Control (A), a model intervention which included involvement of parents as well as courses for teachers (B), intervention identical to B but with no courses for teachers (C), and intervention identical to B but with no involvement of parents (D). Questionnaire surveys were administered four times (baseline and three follow-up surveys). A total of 19 school hours were used for the intervention, which took place in grades 8, 9, and 10.


RESULTS
Changes in smoking frequency (daily, weekly, more seldom, non-smoker) and number of cigarettes smoked per week were used as end-point measures. Changes in smoking habits were markedly more favourable among students in model intervention schools than among students in control schools.


CONCLUSIONS
Carefully planned school-based intervention contributes to reduced smoking among adolescents.
Jøsendal
Ola
O
HEMIL-senteret, Universitetet i Bergen 5015 Bergen. ola.joesendal@psych.uib.no
Aarø
Leif Edvard
LE
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
VAER røykFRI--evaluering av et tiltak for røykfrie skoler.