title: OC31 - Tobacco consumption by adolescents: a study in the north of Portgual.
abstract: Theme: School health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the adolescents' habits of smoking in a Portuguese School; to identify if the adolescents have information on the harmful effects of tobacco and their health education needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative, exploratory and descriptive study. Data collection in 2011 through a self-answered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample comprised 441 students; mean age of 14.5 years old; 53.1% were male; 18,6% were smokers; boys smoked more than girls; they started to smoke between 7-18; the tobacco consumption is significantly related with: age (p<0,001); gender (p=0,002); interest of the family about the adolescents' problems (p=0,028) among others. The adolescents have information about the harmful effects of tobacco and the ones interested in receiving more information wanted it from the health professionals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevention and delaying the age of initiation of consumption should be taken into account in a target intervention plan, which should be led by the school health nurse.
authors.affiliation: ESEP, Portugal.
authors.forename: Margarida Reis
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: ESEP, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: ULSNE - UCC Mogadouro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012572:School Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064424:Tobacco Use / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Adolescents; risk behaviours; tobacco.