Leopardi E A, Poulson T C, Neiger B L, Lindenmuth J E, Greer R O
Davis County Health Department, Farmington, Utah.
J Cancer Educ. 1989;4(2):125-34. doi: 10.1080/08858198909527986.
Smokeless tobacco is an increasingly popular substance, especially among male adolescents. We determined the prevalence of smokeless tobacco use and evaluated selected factors associated with it among 8,902 students in grades 7 through 12 in the Davis County, Utah, School District. The students responded anonymously in their classrooms to a 16-item self-reporting questionnaire. Results indicated that smokeless tobacco usage was predominately a male phenomenon in all grades and schools, as illustrated by prevalence rates "within the past week" for junior high school students (male: 15.0%; female: 1.1%). Modal responses regarding users' source of supply revealed "friends" as the leading source for junior high students (43.1%) and direct purchase for senior high students (62.2%). Peer usage or nonusage of smokeless tobacco was found to be directly and proportionately correlated with smokeless tobacco users' participation in the school activity designated "sports" for both junior high (39%) and senior high school students (36.2%). Subsequently, clinical evaluation of high school male athletes was undertaken. To our surprise, the rate of lesion detection among members of this group, previously judged to be the subjects most likely to use smokeless tobacco, fell far short of the anticipated rate. We believe the reason for the low rate may be the result of numerous efforts to educate students and coaches, the reinforcement of existing tobacco use policies by the Davis County School District, and the reiteration to smokeless tobacco vendors of the terms of the Utah laws relative to smokeless tobacco sales. This health-endangering behavior deserves a concerted educational thrust by health professional, parents, and teachers, with emphasis on prevention.
无烟烟草正变得越来越流行，尤其是在青少年男性中。我们确定了犹他州戴维斯县学区7至12年级的8902名学生中无烟烟草的使用情况，并评估了与之相关的选定因素。学生们在教室里匿名回答了一份包含16个项目的自我报告问卷。结果表明，无烟烟草的使用在所有年级和学校中主要是男性现象，初中学生“在过去一周内”的使用率就说明了这一点（男性：15.0%；女性：1.1%）。关于使用者供应来源的典型回答显示，初中学生的主要来源是“朋友”（43.1%），而高中生则是直接购买（62.2%）。发现初中（39%）和高中（36.2%）学生同伴对无烟烟草的使用或不使用与无烟烟草使用者参与指定为“体育”的学校活动直接且成比例相关。随后，对高中男运动员进行了临床评估。令我们惊讶的是，该组成员中病变检测率远低于预期，而该组之前被认为是最有可能使用无烟烟草的对象。我们认为低检测率的原因可能是对学生和教练进行了大量教育工作、戴维斯县学区加强了现有的烟草使用政策，以及向无烟烟草供应商重申了犹他州与无烟烟草销售相关法律的条款。这种危害健康的行为值得健康专业人员、家长和教师齐心协力开展教育工作，重点是预防。
