INTRODUCTION: A smoking prevention program was developed to prepare children in elementary school for secondary school. This study assessed the effects on smoking in secondary school. METHODS:In 2002, 121 schools in The Netherlands were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The intervention group received 3 lessons in 5th grade of elementary school and a second 3 lessons in 6th grade. The control group received "usual care". Students completed 5 questionnaires: before and after the lessons in 5th and 6th grade and in the first class of secondary school. At baseline, 3173 students completed the questionnaire; 57% completed all questionnaires. RESULTS: The program had limited effect at the end of elementary school. One year later in secondary school significant effects on behavioral determinants and smoking were found. The intervention group had a higher intention not to smoke (β=0.13, 95% confidence interval=0.01-0.24) and started to smoke less often than the control group (odds ratio=0.59, 95% confidence interval=0.35-0.99): smoking increased from 2.5% to 3.6% in the intervention group and from 3.2% to 6.5% in the control group. Girls showed the largest differences in smoking between intervention and control condition. CONCLUSIONS: A prevention program in elementary school seems to be effective in preventing smoking.
RCT Entities:
INTRODUCTION: A smoking prevention program was developed to prepare children in elementary school for secondary school. This study assessed the effects on smoking in secondary school. METHODS: In 2002, 121 schools in The Netherlands were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The intervention group received 3 lessons in 5th grade of elementary school and a second 3 lessons in 6th grade. The control group received "usual care". Students completed 5 questionnaires: before and after the lessons in 5th and 6th grade and in the first class of secondary school. At baseline, 3173 students completed the questionnaire; 57% completed all questionnaires. RESULTS: The program had limited effect at the end of elementary school. One year later in secondary school significant effects on behavioral determinants and smoking were found. The intervention group had a higher intention not to smoke (β=0.13, 95% confidence interval=0.01-0.24) and started to smoke less often than the control group (odds ratio=0.59, 95% confidence interval=0.35-0.99): smoking increased from 2.5% to 3.6% in the intervention group and from 3.2% to 6.5% in the control group. Girls showed the largest differences in smoking between intervention and control condition. CONCLUSIONS: A prevention program in elementary school seems to be effective in preventing smoking.
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