Approaching tobacco dependence in youngsters: impact of an interactive smoking cessation program in a population of Romanian adolescents
Antigona Trofor 1 * , Stefan Mihaicuta, Milena Adina Man, Ramona Miron, Valentina Esanu, Letitia Trofor
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1 University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Gr. T. Popa” Iasi, Romania Clinic of Pulmonary Diseases Iasi, 30, Dr. Iosif Cihac Street, 700115, Iasi, Romania* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an interactive smoking cessation program when first implemented in a naïve population of Romanian adolescents. The secondary objective was to assess youngsters’ attitudes and beliefs towards tobacco dependence, their compliance to smoking cessation interventions and success rate of a standard smoking cessation pilot program.
Materials and methods: A total of 231 subjects 14-19 years old participated in the Adolescent Smoking Cessation (ASC) pilot program in Romania in 2005. Subjects were evaluated based on the ASC questionnaire, a validated set of questions about smoking and cessation profile, whether current smoker or not. Smoking status was validated by carbon monoxide determination in exhaled air. Participants were delivered 6 interactive ASC sessions about smoking hazards and methods to quit smoking. A final evaluation was done to assess overall program’s impact and to reward quitters and reducers by prizes.
Results: Study population was made of 52.4% every day smokers, 10.4% at least once/week but not every day smokers, 6% less than once/week smokers, 23.4% never smokers and 7.8% ex-smokers. Cessation rate was 12.3% in every day smokers and 16.6 % in at least once a week but not every day smokers. Also, 4.1% every day smokers and 30 % at least once/week not every day smokers reduced number of cigarettes smoked/day. The program registered a high attendance rate/sessions as 85.2 % of subjects were present in all sessions. Also, significant changes occurred in participant’s beliefs about smoking and cessation.
Conclusion: Pilot ASC was an efficient program with 12.3% of daily smokers to quit smoking and its positive impact on personal smoking and cessation beliefs in 90 % of participants.

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

J Clin Exp Invest, 2010, Volume 1, Issue 3, 150-155

https://doi.org/10.5799/ahinjs.01.2010.03.0032

Publication date: 17 Dec 2010

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