Longitudinal effects of the European smoking prevention framework approach (ESFA) project in Spanish adolescents.
BACKGROUND
To describe the effects of a Spanish smoking prevention programme in the context of an European project on regular smoking, in a sample of Barcelona adolescents.


METHODS
A quasi-experimental design was conducted. An experimental group (EG) (1080 pupils) was exposed to programme and compared with a control group (CG) (872 students). The intervention included a school-based programme (16 sessions in 3 years), reinforcement of a smoke-free school policy, smoking cessation for teachers, brochures for parents and other community-based activities involving youth clubs and tobacco sales.


RESULTS
At 12 months, 4.5% of boys and 5.6% of girls were new smokers in the EG versus 6.7% and 11.7% in the CG (P < 0.001). At 36 months, 18.6% of boys and 31.2% of girls in the EG were regular smokers versus 21.6% of boys and 38.3% of girls in the CG (P < 0.001). The main factors associated with progression to regular smoking at 36 months were to be girl, to attend to a public school and to belong to the CG.


CONCLUSIONS
These results endorse the effectiveness of multi-modal smoking prevention programmes, which include strategies with adults who influence adolescents.
Evaluation and Intervention Methods Service, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (Public Health Agency, Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain. cariza@aspb.es
Carles
C
Ariza
Manel
M
Nebot
Zoa
Z
Tomás
Emmanuel
E
Giménez
Sara
S
Valmayor
Visitación
V
Tarilonte
Hein
H
De Vries
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult