Khechinashvili G, Andall-Brereton G, Razum O
Department of Tropical Hygiene and Public Health, Heidelberg University, Germany.
West Indian Med J. 2004 Sep;53(4):260-2.
Tobago, until lately, was considered a society with a low prevalence of cigarette smoking. Recent surveys, however, showed an increasing smoking prevalence among school children. To assess whether teachers in Tobago can be credible role models for their pupils, we carried out a cross-sectional survey on their smoking-related attitudes and behaviour in 2002. We distributed anonymous, structured questionnaires to teachers of all 52 primary and secondary schools in the island and conducted structured observations in schools. Of 579 teachers present during the survey, 559 (97%) returned a completed questionnaire; 8.6% of the male and 2.4% of the female teachers reported to be current cigarette smokers; slightly higher proportions had ever been daily smokers. Teachers were well aware of the harmful effects of smoking. Significantly more non-smokers than current smokers were in favour of strict school smoking regulations. The vast majority of the teachers perceived anti-smoking education as their duty. None of the schools had dedicated smoking rooms for teachers, and we found no cigarette butts in or around teachers' rooms. In Tobago, teachers have a lower reported prevalence of cigarette smoking than their pupils. Thus, most teachers can be credible role models with regard to smoking prevention and should be encouraged to become more active in school-based preventive activities.
多巴哥岛直到最近还被认为是一个吸烟率较低的社会。然而，最近的调查显示，学童中的吸烟率在上升。为了评估多巴哥岛的教师是否能成为学生可靠的行为榜样，我们于2002年对他们与吸烟相关的态度和行为进行了一项横断面调查。我们向该岛所有52所中小学的教师发放了匿名的结构化问卷，并在学校进行了结构化观察。在调查期间在场的579名教师中，559名（97%）返回了完整的问卷；8.6%的男教师和2.4%的女教师报告称目前吸烟；曾经每天吸烟的教师比例略高。教师们清楚地意识到吸烟的有害影响。支持严格学校吸烟规定的非吸烟者明显多于目前吸烟者。绝大多数教师认为反吸烟教育是他们的职责。没有一所学校为教师设有专门的吸烟室，我们在教师办公室内或周围也没有发现烟头。在多巴哥岛，报告的教师吸烟率低于学生。因此，大多数教师在预防吸烟方面可以成为可靠的行为榜样，应鼓励他们在学校预防活动中更加积极主动。
