An evaluation of a tobacco use education-prevention program: a pilot study.

This study was designed to implement a psychosocial approach to primary prevention of cigarette and smokeless tobacco use among seventh-grade students. The prevention program was presented by peer leaders who were older high school students. Program intervention addressed parental, peer, and media influences on tobacco use, and taught refusal skills for resisting social pressures to smoke or chew tobacco. Program effectiveness was examined in terms of three variables: knowledge (basic knowledge about tobacco facts), refusal skills (degree of self-reported assertiveness in refusing to use tobacco), and attitude (positive and negative attitudes toward tobacco). These variables were assessed at pre- and posttests, and 1-month follow-up to program termination. It was found that students who received the intervention reported increased knowledge and improved resistance skills regarding the use of tobacco, as compared to a control group. Attitudes toward tobacco were initially negative and did not change over the course of the intervention in either group. In addition, 1-year follow-up was conducted on the intervention group, indicating that treatment gains were maintained.