Tobacco education: have New Zealand primary schools done their homework?
OBJECTIVE
To describe the content, delivery and evaluation of tobacco-related (smoke-free) education to pre-teen students and to compare this education with current best practice.


METHODS
Postal survey to staff of 136 New Zealand (NZ) schools with primary-aged children.


RESULTS
More than 90% of schools offered some form of education about the harmful effects of tobacco use and many relied on external providers for this education.


CONCLUSIONS
Although most schools offered some form of smoke-free education, there was a lack of rigorous program evaluation, particularly of programs provided by external agencies.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking remains a significant health problem in NZ and improving the quality of smoke-free education for pre-teen students, before most young people initiate smoking, would be a positive step towards better health.
Walker
Jacqueline
J
Social and Behavioural Research in Cancer Group, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Darling
Helen
H
D002648:Child; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D012572:School Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention