Helping teenagers stop smoking: Comparative observations across youth settings in Cardiff

Abstract

Objective This paper presents comparative observations between schools/colleges, youth centres, and specialist youth provision, in relation to delivery of the 2tuff2puff six-week smoking cessation and awareness programme to young people in Cardiff. Design A six-week smoking cessation programme was delivered to 12—23 year olds in various youth venues, using weekly records of attendance and compulsory questionnaires delivered by the group facilitator at week one and week six. Setting Twenty-two groups were delivered in 14 youth settings across Cardiff. These settings were categorized into three types: schools/ colleges; youth centres; and specialist youth provisions. Method Data collected from 179 young people at week one and 84 young people at week six were used to measure changes in weekly smoking behaviour, weekly expenditure on cigarettes, knowledge about smoking and smoking cessation, attitudes toward smoking, motivation to quit/ cut down, and attrition. These were compared across the three different setting types. Youth Health Development Officers rated the three setting types on five factors (ease of access/communication with venue; suitability for sessions/acceptability to young people; supportiveness of environment for making a quit attempt; recruitment of young people; and data collection and evaluation) to reflect their practical experiences of delivering the six-week smoking cessation programme across the different youth settings. Results Schools/colleges and specialist youth provision had the highest levels of attendance, and positive change in attitude toward quitting was greatest in specialist youth settings (79 per cent of attendees were more determined to quit). Conclusion Overall, when both practical delivery issues and young peoples' outcome measures were considered, specialist youth provisions were the most effective settings for delivery of this programme. Delivery of smoking awareness as part of a wider health curriculum for groups of excluded young people is also recommended.