Tobacco use amongst high school students in the Czech Republic.
OBJECTIVE
We were interested in the prevalence of smoking amongst teen-age students, its possible causes, and their understanding of its associated health risks.


METHODS
We constructed a questionnaire that was responded to by a total of 419 students from 5 high schools in Prague, Czech Republic. Students were classified as non-smokers, mild (1-10 cigarettes daily), moderate (11-20 cigarettes daily), and severe smokers (>20 cigarettes daily). The survey also contained questions about passive smoking, motivation for smoking, the understanding of its associated health risks, alcohol consumption, and drugs.


RESULTS
We found that amongst 16-20 years old high school students there are 37.5% smokers (38.0% men, and 37.0% women). The majority are mild smokers (82.3%), 15.8% moderate smokers and 1.9% heavy smokers. 29.0% of non-smokers reported passive smoking; i.e. that 65.7% of students are exposed to harmful effect of tobacco smoke. The average onset of smoking is at 14 years of age. The youngest smoker started smoking at the age of 5 years. Parents of 52.0% of students smoke (69.4% of smokers and 41.6% of non-smokers). Most of students know about the risk of lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases (86-99%).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of active and passive smoking among high school students is high. Parents smoking is significantly more frequent in teen-age smokers than in non-smokers. We consider the "teen-age" population together with their parents to be the key target for a successful antismoking campaign.
Golan
L
L
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, The Charles University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic. golan@atlas.cz
Lubanda
J C
JC
Netuka
M
M
Bosanska
L
L
Lubanda
H
H
Linhart
A
A
Simek
S
S
Charalampidi
Ch
Ch
Aschermann
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution