Effects of a social-network method for group assignment strategies on peer-led tobacco prevention programs in schools.
OBJECTIVE
Our study tested the effectiveness of network methods for identifying opinion leaders and for constructing groups.


METHODS
Three conditions-random, teacher, and network--ere randomly assigned to 84 6th-grade classrooms within 16 schools. Pre- and postcurriculum data on mediators of tobacco use were collected from 1961 students. Peer leaders in the network condition were identified by student nominations, and those leaders were matched with the students who nominated them.


RESULTS
Students in the network condition relative to the random condition liked the prevention program more and had improved attitudes (beta = -0.06; P <.01), improved self-efficacy (beta = -0.10; P <.001), and decreased intention to smoke (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.38, 0.55).


CONCLUSIONS
The network method was the most effective way to structure the program. Future programs may refine this technique and use it in other settings.
Valente
Thomas W
TW
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Alhambra, 91803, USA. tvalente@usc.edu
Hoffman
Beth R
BR
Ritt-Olson
Annamara
A
Lichtman
Kara
K
Johnson
C Anderson
CA
D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003479:Curriculum; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011897:Random Allocation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012925:Social Conformity; D012944:Social Support