Parents' Perceptions of the Role of Schools in Tobacco Use Prevention
Parents' Perceptions of the Role of Schools in Tobacco Use Prevention
The purpose of this study was to examine Ohio parents' perceptions of the role of schools in smoking prevention, cessation, and anti-tobacco policy for their children. A 46-item questionnaire was based on the CDC Guidelines for School Health Programs to Prevent Tobacco Use and Addiction. Surveys (n = 800) were sent to a stratified random sample of parents of junior high and high school aged students and 57% responded. Parents were supportive of smoking prevention activities, but almost two-thirds believed their child's school should get parents' input. Furthermore, mothers/step-mothers were more likely than fathers/step-fathers to agree that the school had a role in smoking prevention activities. The majority of parents were also supportive of smoking cessation activities. However, only 8% of parent respondents supported schools providing nicotine gum or patches to students trying to quit smoking. Overall, the majority of parents were supportive of the seven recommendations developed by the CDC as guidelines for school health programs to prevent tobacco use and addiction. Schools have the opportunity to impact student smoking through prevention and cessation activities. Schools need to know that parents are supportive of these activities and want to be included in the process of implementing effective prevention or cessation programs.
Smoking has its roots early in life with over 3000 children and adolescents beginning to smoke every day. It is estimated that about half of adolescents who continue to smoke will die from a smoking-related illness. This will result in premature loss of life for over 5 million youths. As many as 63% of smokers began the practice before the age of 13.
Past research suggests that adolescents who began experimenting with smoking at a younger age were at increased risk of becoming a regular smoker. For this reason, it is very important that smoking education begin at a young age. School health programs can be an effective means of preventing tobacco use among youth. In addition, schools should offer cessation programs to help those students who have started to smoke.
Unfortunately, there are too few required prevention and cessation programs in schools. The School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) (2000) indicated that less than 20% of states and less than 60% of school districts required schools to offer tobacco prevention services. Also, only 10% of states and 42% of school districts required schools to provide tobacco-use cessation to students when needed.
When investigating the tobacco prevention activities available to students in Ohio, results found that Ohio does not require school districts or schools to provide tobacco use prevention services. Ohio does have a tobacco free environment policy which includes prohibiting cigarette smoking, cigar or pipe smoking, and smokeless tobacco use among students, faculty, staff, and visitors both on and off campus for school-sponsored events. In Ohio, it is estimated that over 127,000 children ranging from 12-18 years of age smoke cigarettes. Within Ohio, current cigarette smoking for students in grades six through eight was estimated at 14%, and in grades nine through 12 was estimated at 33%.
If effective smoking prevention and cessation programs are going to be developed and implemented within schools, it is important to understand parents' perceptions of the schools role in various school health issues (including children's tobacco use). Only one study was found concerning parent' perceptions of the role of schools in their children's tobacco use. Clark and colleagues (1999) found many white parents believed that they did not have to worry about their children using tobacco because of school influence. White parents acknowledged that tobacco control among teens is an appropriate role for the schools, while Black parents believed schools should only reinforce the teachings of the parents concerning tobacco use.
To assist in the reduction of adolescent smoking, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed guidelines and recommendations concerning tobacco use prevention and addiction. The seven guidelines were developed to assist school personnel in planning, implementing, and assessing educational programs and school policies to prevent tobacco use and addiction and tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. To ensure the greatest impact, schools need to implement all seven recommendations.
Parents' perceptions of tobacco issues in schools are important because coordinated school health programs list parents and families as one of the eight components. Thus, it is useful for schools to know what parents think about an issue before they implement curricular changes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine Ohio parents' perceptions of the role of schools in smoking prevention, cessation, and anti-tobacco policy for their children. More specifically, are Ohio parents' supportive of smoking cessation and/or prevention activities for their children within junior high and high school? Furthermore, are Ohio parents supportive of selected anti-tobacco policies for their children within junior high and high school?
The purpose of this study was to examine Ohio parents' perceptions of the role of schools in smoking prevention, cessation, and anti-tobacco policy for their children. A 46-item questionnaire was based on the CDC Guidelines for School Health Programs to Prevent Tobacco Use and Addiction. Surveys (n = 800) were sent to a stratified random sample of parents of junior high and high school aged students and 57% responded. Parents were supportive of smoking prevention activities, but almost two-thirds believed their child's school should get parents' input. Furthermore, mothers/step-mothers were more likely than fathers/step-fathers to agree that the school had a role in smoking prevention activities. The majority of parents were also supportive of smoking cessation activities. However, only 8% of parent respondents supported schools providing nicotine gum or patches to students trying to quit smoking. Overall, the majority of parents were supportive of the seven recommendations developed by the CDC as guidelines for school health programs to prevent tobacco use and addiction. Schools have the opportunity to impact student smoking through prevention and cessation activities. Schools need to know that parents are supportive of these activities and want to be included in the process of implementing effective prevention or cessation programs.
Smoking has its roots early in life with over 3000 children and adolescents beginning to smoke every day. It is estimated that about half of adolescents who continue to smoke will die from a smoking-related illness. This will result in premature loss of life for over 5 million youths. As many as 63% of smokers began the practice before the age of 13.
Past research suggests that adolescents who began experimenting with smoking at a younger age were at increased risk of becoming a regular smoker. For this reason, it is very important that smoking education begin at a young age. School health programs can be an effective means of preventing tobacco use among youth. In addition, schools should offer cessation programs to help those students who have started to smoke.
Unfortunately, there are too few required prevention and cessation programs in schools. The School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) (2000) indicated that less than 20% of states and less than 60% of school districts required schools to offer tobacco prevention services. Also, only 10% of states and 42% of school districts required schools to provide tobacco-use cessation to students when needed.
When investigating the tobacco prevention activities available to students in Ohio, results found that Ohio does not require school districts or schools to provide tobacco use prevention services. Ohio does have a tobacco free environment policy which includes prohibiting cigarette smoking, cigar or pipe smoking, and smokeless tobacco use among students, faculty, staff, and visitors both on and off campus for school-sponsored events. In Ohio, it is estimated that over 127,000 children ranging from 12-18 years of age smoke cigarettes. Within Ohio, current cigarette smoking for students in grades six through eight was estimated at 14%, and in grades nine through 12 was estimated at 33%.
If effective smoking prevention and cessation programs are going to be developed and implemented within schools, it is important to understand parents' perceptions of the schools role in various school health issues (including children's tobacco use). Only one study was found concerning parent' perceptions of the role of schools in their children's tobacco use. Clark and colleagues (1999) found many white parents believed that they did not have to worry about their children using tobacco because of school influence. White parents acknowledged that tobacco control among teens is an appropriate role for the schools, while Black parents believed schools should only reinforce the teachings of the parents concerning tobacco use.
To assist in the reduction of adolescent smoking, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed guidelines and recommendations concerning tobacco use prevention and addiction. The seven guidelines were developed to assist school personnel in planning, implementing, and assessing educational programs and school policies to prevent tobacco use and addiction and tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. To ensure the greatest impact, schools need to implement all seven recommendations.
Parents' perceptions of tobacco issues in schools are important because coordinated school health programs list parents and families as one of the eight components. Thus, it is useful for schools to know what parents think about an issue before they implement curricular changes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine Ohio parents' perceptions of the role of schools in smoking prevention, cessation, and anti-tobacco policy for their children. More specifically, are Ohio parents' supportive of smoking cessation and/or prevention activities for their children within junior high and high school? Furthermore, are Ohio parents supportive of selected anti-tobacco policies for their children within junior high and high school?
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