"Start to stop": results of a randomised controlled trial of a smoking cessation programme for teens.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a school based smoking cessation programme among students caught smoking at school.


METHODS
A randomised controlled trial comparing cessation rates among students in a behavioural cessation programme and those receiving self help materials only.


METHODS
Eighteen schools in the Memphis, Tennessee area.


METHODS
Two hundred and sixty one adolescent cigarette smokers (166 male, 95 female) averaging 15.8 years of age.


METHODS
Students assigned to the intervention received a four session behavioural treatment programme administered individually by a health educator. In addition, these students received stage matched intervention in brief phone calls monthly until the one year follow up.


METHODS
Self reported and biochemically verified smoking cessation at post-test and 12 month follow up.


RESULTS
Recruiting students who were caught smoking at school proved to be highly successful. Participants rated the programme favourably, and retention rates were high. Although treated participants improved more in tobacco related knowledge relative to controls (p = 0.002), there were no group differences in changes in attitudes toward smoking. In addition, treated and control participants demonstrated no significant differences in cessation rates both at post-test and follow up. Comparisons between self reported cessation rates and those obtained under bogus pipeline conditions or with biochemical verification suggested significant falsification of cessation among participants.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results failed to demonstrate any significant effect of the cessation programme on smoking rates for treated adolescents compared with controls. Our findings also highlight the importance of utilising strong methodology in research on adolescent smoking cessation, including control groups and biochemical verification of smoking status.
Robinson
L A
LA
The University of Memphis Department of Psychology, 202 Psychology Building, Memphis, TN 38152-3230, USA. L.Robinson@mail.psyc.memphis.edu
Vander Weg
M W
MW
Riedel
B W
BW
Klesges
R C
RC
McLain-Allen
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003367:Cotinine / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D012931:Social Environment; D013714:Tennessee; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003367:Cotinine