A cluster randomised controlled trial of an adolescent smoking cessation intervention: short and long-term effects.
BACKGROUND
There is a lack of effective smoking cessation interventions which have a high reach among adolescent smokers.


METHODS
We conducted a randomised controlled trial of an adolescent smoking cessation intervention for students aged 15-21 at 22 continuation schools in Denmark. The intervention was a minimal intervention based on events with short counselling and a range of self-help materials. Our 1-month follow up consisted of 514 baseline daily smokers and the 14-month follow up of 369 daily smokers.


RESULTS
We found positive short-term effects regarding smoking cessation (adjusted OR 4.50, 95% CI 1.20-16.86), self-efficacy (p=0.01), and intentions to quit (p=0.004). However, none of these effects were maintained at 1-year follow up. The intervention was successful in reaching more than half of all daily smokers in the target group with more than 30% receiving counselling at least once in the intervention period.


CONCLUSIONS
This trial shows that a "minimal" intervention can produce short-term effects but that this approach is insufficient in producing long-term effects.
Department of Cancer Prevention & Documentation, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark. pdal@si-folkesundhed.dk
Peter
P
Dalum
Georg
G
Paludan-Müller
Gerda
G
Engholm
Gerjo
G
Kok
D000293:Adolescent; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult