A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Theory-Informed School-Based Intervention to Prevent Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking: Changes in Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviors in 6th and 7th Graders in Lebanon. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) is spreading worldwide. Research has indicated health consequences of WTS similar to cigarettes. Prevalence of WTS is high among young people. In Lebanon, current use rates of 35% have been documented among 13⁻15 year olds. We evaluated a school-based intervention. Method: We conducted a randomized-controlled-trial of a theory-informed WTS intervention. The intervention consisted of ten sessions based on social cognitive theory and the social influences approach. Thirty-one schools participated: 14 intervention and 17 control; a total of 1279 students completed pre and post assessments. We measured knowledge, attitudes and self-reported behaviors related to WTS using Chi-square tests and regression analyses to compare results between the two study arms. Results: The intervention increased knowledge of intervention group compared to control group participants-about WTS constituents and health consequences; and shifted attitudes of intervention group participants to be even more unfavorable towards WTS. We found no impact of the intervention on WTS behaviors. Discussion: The effectiveness of the intervention on knowledge and attitudes supports previous research. The lack of intervention effect on behavior is not surprising given the timing of the post assessment immediately after the intervention, and the social context that was supportive of waterpipe use.

publication date

  • August 26, 2018

Research

keywords

  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Schools
  • Smoking Prevention
  • Students
  • Tobacco Smoking
  • Tobacco, Waterpipe

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC6163698

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85052496486

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1177/109019818801500401

PubMed ID

  • 30149668

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 15

issue

  • 9