Smoke-free School Policies Research Articles

Decrease in the prevalence of smoking among Japanese adolescents and its possible causes: periodic nationwide cross-sectional surveys.

To assess trends in smoking prevalence among Japanese adolescents and to analyze possible causal factors for the decrease in smoking prevalence observed in a 2004 survey. Nationwide cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 1996, 2000 and 2004. Survey schools, both junior and senior high schools, considered to be representative of the whole of Japan were sampled randomly. Enrolled students were asked to complete a self-reporting anonymous questionnaire on smoking behavior. The questionnaires were collected from 115,814 students in 1996, 106,297 in 2000, and 102,451 in 2004. School principals were asked about the policy of their respective school on smoking restrictions. Cigarette smoking prevalence (lifetime, current, and daily smoking) in 2004, based on the completed questionnaires, had decreased relative to previous years in both sexes and in all school grades. The most important trends were: a decrease in smoking prevalence among the fathers and older brothers of the students; an increase in the proportion of students who did not have friends; a decrease in the proportion of current smokers who usually bought cigarettes in stores decreased in 2004, in particular for the oldest boys. An association was found between a lower smoking rate at a school and a smoke-free school policy. Japan has experienced a decrease in the prevalence of smoking among adolescents. A decrease in smoking prevalence among the fathers and older brothers, limitations to minors' access to tobacco, an increase in the proportion of students without friends, and a school policy restricting smoking may have contributed to this decreasing trend.

Smoke-free School Policy and Teachers' Behavior and Attitude towards Smoking

Smoke-free School Policy and Teachers' Behavior and Attitude towards Smoking

Secondhand Smoke Exposure in a Rural High School

Although federal law requires all public schools to be smoke free, lack of compliance with the smoke-free policy is commonly reported. The aims of this study were to describe the indoor fine-particle (PM(2.5)) air pollution in a rural high school and surrounding public venues. This cross-sectional, nonexperimental study was conducted in Monroe County, Kentucky (population of 11,756). Fine-particle concentrations were measured in the high school and 5 public venues using spectrometers. Because of illegal student smoking, PM(2.5) concentrations were 19 times higher in the boys' student restroom than the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for outdoor air (670 vs. 35 microg/m(3)). The staff restrooms adjacent to the student restroom where staff did not smoke also showed high PM(2.5) levels. Average indoor air pollution in the public venues was 158 microg/m(3). Strict enforcement of smoke-free school policy and cessation resources are needed to reduce secondhand smoke exposure. Collaborative school-community campaigns involving parents, students, mass media, and community organizations may be effective in reducing the harm caused by tobacco. Implications for school nurses are discussed.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure in a Rural High School

Although federal law requires all public schools to be smoke free, lack of compliance with the smoke-free policy is commonly reported. The aims of this study were to describe the indoor fine-particle (PM2.5) air pollution in a rural high school and surrounding public venues. This cross-sectional, nonexperimental study was conducted in Monroe County, Kentucky (population of 11,756). Fine-particle concentrations were measured in the high school and 5 public venues using spectrometers. Because of illegal student smoking, PM2.5 concentrations were 19 times higher in the boys’ student restroom than the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for outdoor air (670 vs. 35 μg/m3). The staff restrooms adjacent to the student restroom where staff did not smoke also showed high PM2.5 levels. Average indoor air pollution in the public venues was 158 μg/m3. Strict enforcement of smoke-free school policy and cessation resources are needed to reduce secondhand smoke exposure. Collaborative school-community campaigns involving parents, students, mass media, and community organizations may be effective in reducing the harm caused by tobacco. Implications for school nurses are discussed.

Compliance and support for smoke-free school policies

Our objective was to examine factors associated with compliance and support for a smoke-free campus before and after a 1995 campus-wide smoking ban for everyone, including teachers and visitors, in California. Adolescent (12-17 years) data from the 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2002 (N approximately 6000 each year) California Tobacco Surveys (population-based telephone surveys) were analyzed. Trends in compliance with smoke-free school policies and support for smoke-free campuses were examined among students in public and private schools. Perceived compliance with the no-smoking rule by most or all student smokers increased from 43.7 +/- 1.6% in 1993 to 71.5 +/- 1.4% in 2002. While non-smokers have overwhelmingly favored smoke-free school grounds since 1993 (more than 85% each survey year), support among current smokers increased from 55.8 +/- 4.7% in 1996 to 69.1 +/- 6.8% in 2002. Student smokers who saw teachers smoking in school were less likely to favor school smoking bans (odds ratio = 0.25, 95% confidence interval 0.12-0.49). The percentage of private school students seeing teachers smoke on school grounds has been at least twice that of public school students since 1996. Compliance with and support for smoke-free schools increased since smoking was banned on campus for everyone. Perceived compliance by teachers, much lower in private schools, appears to undermine student smokers' support of this policy. Increased efforts are necessary to communicate to teachers the importance of their modeling of policy compliance to students.

Superintendents' perceptions of schoolsite health promotion in Missouri.

This study assessed school district superintendents' perceptions of schoolsite health promotion in Missouri using a telephone survey method. Superintendents of 150 school districts were surveyed using The Worksite Health Promotion for Faculty and Staff section of the Eight-Component Assessment. Staff identification of blood pressure, healthful cafeteria menus, and smoke-free school policies were perceived as the most frequently offered health-promoting activities. Quality of programs as perceived by district superintendents ranged from "average" to "exemplary." For school districts not offering programs, healthful cafeteria menus, staff identification of blood pressure, and stress management were perceived by superintendents as highly necessary. The number of programs offered in each area differed significantly by demographic characteristics: accreditation classification, assessed valuation, size, and residence. Supportive attitudes by superintendents are critical to attain schoolsite health promotion programs for faculty and staff as part of a comprehensive school health program in Missouri.