Tobacco Use
Conditions
Brief summary
This study evaluated a school-based tobacco program, Dentists Fighting Nicotine Dependence (DFND), to prevent the initiation of tobacco use among middle school students in Saudi Arabia using a social competences/social influence approaches.
Detailed description
A quasi-experimental controlled trial design was utilized. Eight middle schools were selected from the regional education registry; four allocated to treatment arm and four to control arm. A total of 28 seventh grade classes were included in the study; 14 served as treatment and 14 as control arms. All students present in these classes on the initial visit were invited to take part in the study \[Treatment=379; Control=255\]. The treatment arm received the new tobacco prevention program (DFND) whereas the control arm received only the regular tobacco prevention program administered by the Department of Education. DFND was delivered by trained health educators over 5 weeks, two sessions per week. Two follow up surveys were administered; at one week and at two years post-intervention. Study outcomes were current tobacco use, knowledge about tobacco, attitude toward not using tobacco, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) of tobacco use. Covariates included sex, parent education, academic performance, absenteeism, student allowance, and religiosity.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALDFND Program
The DFND program consisted primarily of a 10-session curriculum, each session lasting about an hour. The curriculum was comprehensive and incorporated information about tobacco and its adverse health effects, social influences, and social competence skills.
Sponsors
King Abdulaziz University
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
A quasi-experimental, controlled trial design was utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based tobacco program, Dentists Fighting Nicotine Dependence (DFND), to prevent the initiation of tobacco use among middle school students (grades 7-9) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Eight middle schools were selected from the regional education registry; four allocated to treatment arm (n=379) and four to control arm (n=255). The treatment arm received the new tobacco prevention program (DFND) whereas the control arm received only the regular tobacco prevention program administered by the Department of Education. DFND was delivered by trained health educators over 5 weeks, two sessions per week.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
12 Years to 15 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Students in 7th grade * Gave verbal assent
Exclusion criteria
* no assent
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change from baseline prevalence of tobacco use at one week and at 2 years [Questionnaire] | One week and Two years after the completion of the intervention | Questionnaire administered one week and 2 years post-intervention: current use of tobacco |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change from baseline knowledge about tobacco at one week and at 2 years [Questionnaire] | One week and two years after the completion of the intervention | Questionnaire administered at one week and 2 years: true/false statements on tobacco and its health effects |
| Change from baseline in perceived behavioral control at one week and at 2 years [Questionnaire] | One week and two years after the completion of the intervention | Questionnaire administered at one week and 2 years: a series of control beliefs about tobacco use |
| Change from baseline in attitude towards not using tobacco at one week and at two years[Questionnaire] | One week and two years after the completion of the intervention | Questionnaire administered at one week and two years: a series of attitudinal beliefs about tobacco use |
Outcome results
None listed