title: [Use of tobacco smoke: approach and risk perception by middle-school students in Catania (Italy)].
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the approach and behaviour of middle school students in Catania, towards the risks associated with tobacco smoke. This study is part of a multicentric project evaluating the lifestyles of middle school students (grades 6-8), carried out by the Research and Health Education Group (GRES) and was performed during the 2006/2007 school year. In total 432 students participated in the study by completing a self-administered questionnaire. Data was analysed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results show an increasing trend in the number of smokers from grades 6 to 8. In grades 6 and 8 most smokers are female while in grade 7 male smokers outnumber female smokers. Three percent of the student population reports smoking occasionally and 3% are regular smokers. In light of these results families, schools and institutions should take charge of programming and implementing health promotion interventions aimed at reducing risks and improving the quality of life of students in Catania.
authors.affiliation: GRES-Dipartimento Universitario Clinico di Scienze e Medicina Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Trieste.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Modonutti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altobello
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garascia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012574:Schools; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires