The effects of school structural characteristics and smoking prevention intervention program intervention on the change of smoking rate-for Gyeonggi-Do High Schools in Korea

Abstract

Purpose of this study was investigated the changes in smoking rates for smoking prevention programs interventions for high school students. The survey was conducted from December 15, 2015 to January 31, 2016 by web survey in Gyeonggi-do in Korea. A total of 307 schools are included in the analysis excepting 153 schools of no response and the missing values. This study used a one-group pretest-posttest design with a quasi-experimental design. The changes in smoking rates were analyzed by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, which is a nonparametric test.: The statistically significant reduction in the smoking rate in the structural part was ‘Smoking cessation policy and regulations’, ‘Designed non-smoking throughout the school’, and Support for smoking prevention education of principal. Also, one or more of the nine programs were conducted at all high schools. In addition, smoking rates have decreased because most schools have duplicated education programs. But there was no change in smoking rates without the teacher's lecture or counseling. So, Smoking prevention is very important in the structure and process. In order to sustain this, it is necessary to create a social atmosphere and actively promote in the provincial office of education. The social effort for smoking prevention can reduce the tobacco by establishing a social atmosphere by preventing early smoking rather than attempting to quit smoking after becoming an adult.