A school-based environmental intervention to reduce smoking among high school students: the Acadiana Coalition of Teens against Tobacco (ACTT).
A school-based environmental program to reduce adolescent smoking was conducted in 20 schools (10 intervention; 10 control) in south central Louisiana. The 9th grade cohort (n = 4,763; mean age = 15.4 yrs; 51% female; 61% Caucasian; 30-day smoking prevalence at baseline = 25%) was followed over four years for 30-day smoking prevalence with the school as the unit of analysis. Although prevalence decreased in intervention schools and increased in control schools in Year 2 the significant difference between the two groups at baseline was not overcome by the intervention and increases in prevalence were observed in both groups in Years 3 and 4. The higher the percentage of white students in a school the higher the prevalence rates regardless of intervention/control status. Boys' and girls' smoking rates were similar. These outcome data, student feedback and process evaluation provide a basis for continuing to create more innovative adolescent tobacco control programs.
Johnson
Carolyn C
CC
Department of Community Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA. cjohnso5@tulane.edu
Myers
Leann
L
Webber
Larry S
LS
Boris
Neil W
NW
He
Hao
H
Brewer
Dixye
D
D000293:Adolescent; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013334:Students; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless; D055815:Young Adult