Source: Annual Congress 2002 - Smoking habits in teenagers
Disease area: Airway diseases

Abstract

Background An educational program against smoking was carried out in a secondary school since 1997. Here we present the 5-year follow-up data on smoking habits of this population sample.Methods The program was based on class-meetings with discussion on tobacco-related issues, collection of questionnaires on smoking and measurement of CO level in the exhaled air. Results A total of 2464 questionnaires were analyzed. No significant difference was observed in self-reported smoking through 1997 to 2001, with a mean of 6%, 26%, 37%, 44%,and 50% smokers at 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18y, respectively. No difference was found in smokers with CO >= 10ppm (parts per million), with a mean of 3%, 11%, 16%, 22%, and 28% current smokers at 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18y, respectively. Mean (±] SD) CO (all students) was 5.43(±]4.02), 6.50( ±]5.58 ), 6.01(±]4.49), 6.07(±]5.69 ), and 5.24( ±]4.96)ppm in the year 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively (n.s.). Among non smokers 85% had CO [lte] 5, 14% 6 to 9, and 1% > 10ppm. Among daily smokers, 26% had CO levels [lte] 5, 33% 6 to 9, and 41% >= 10ppm. Smoking was prevalent among girls (58%). Among smokers with CO >= 10ppm no sex difference was found. The R² coefficient for overall mean COppm and self-reported smoking was 0.98. Conclusions Our data indicate that smoking habits did not change significantly in the follow-up period, neither by questionnaire reporting nor by CO analysis, suggesting a slowing in the increase in teenager smoking observed in the recent years. CO measurement was found useful to monitor smoking habits, to validate questionnaire reporting and to individuate current smokers suitable to smoking cessation programs in the school.

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G. Invernizzi, B. Glaviano, D. Chirico, R. Boffi, R. Mazza, P. Paredi, E. Soresi, S. Nardini (Florence, Milan, Vittorio Veneto, Italy; London, United Kingdom). Five-year follow-up of smoking attitudes in a secondary school evaluated by questionnaires and carbon monoxide (CO) measurements. Eur Respir J 2002; 20: Suppl. 38, 898

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