Post-survey data about “I do not smoke it”, smoking prevention campaign addressed to schools

Abstract

Introduction: According to Il fumo in Italia (DOXA-Italian Institute of Health survey, 2016), most smokers try their first cigarette in the range from age 15 to age 17 (56.8%). The main reason why people start smoking is emulation (60.7%). There is the need to strengthen the work of the healthcare professionals in preventive care about cigarette smoke. Considering these, WALCE (Women Against Lung Cancer in Europe), since 2011, promotes “I do not smoke it ≥ We shall try to see things clearly in the smoky speeches”, an information campaign on damages of smoking, aimed at 9-11 year-old pupils in Primary schools. Materials and methods: After the administration of a questionnaire and the use of the educational kit we asked to some teachers to administer a post-survey to pupils, in the 2015-2016 school year. We analyzed 253 surveys: 76 questionnaires from 9 years-old Primary school pupils; 137 from 10 years-old Primary school pupils; 40 from 11 yearsold Lower Secondary school pupils. Surveys were filled in by 130 male (51.38%) and 123 female pupils (48.62%), in schools of 3 different Italian regions (Piemonte, Veneto and Puglia). Results: 81% of pupils believes that this type of intervention is useful as prevention action, 8.7% thinks that cigarette smoke only harms those who smoke, 1.6% thinks that smoking improves performance in sports and 9.5%thinks it can help to lose weight. Answers to the question “In your opinion, is it possible to quit smoking?” are encouraging: 77% responded “Yes”, 21.3% “No”. Analyzing in the different classes the reasons why people start smoking: “to be cool”, with percentages of 60.5%, 76.6% and 82.5%, in the fourth, firth grade of Primary school and in the first grade of Lower Secondary school, respectively. Other reasons reported in high percentages were: “to imitate adults” and “to feel accepted”. When asked, “What do you think is more dangerous for you?”, “smoking a cigarette” was the most answered response. Conclusions: Several health education studies have shown that prevention programs addressed to school are more effective if conducted by the teachers. It is known that young people, especially during the adolescence, try to put in practice behaviors that allow them to affirm their identity and build a network of social and affective relationships. For this reason, health promotion and behavioral prevention activities, implemented in schools and at home by families are crucial to avoid to endanger the wellbeing of tomorrow's adults.