Although smoking prevalence has been decreasing in the United States, smoking among adolescents is still on the rise. Despite this, there are few interventions that help adolescents to stop smoking. The Adolescent Smoking Cessation Study assessed the effectiveness of telephone-delivered motivational strategies to help adolescents quit smoking. The purpose of this presentation is to describe this innovative intervention, including intervention development, "counselor" training, and intervention delivery. Ninety-eight students aged 14 to 19 from alternative high schools in Georgia were recruited to participate in the study. Subjects were equally divided into comparison and intervention groups. The intervention group received 3 motivational interviews, and both groups received a baseline and follow-up surveys at 3 and 6 months. The survey tracked information about processes of change, depression, addiction, and smoking history. Health Promotion and Behavior graduate students trained in motivational interviewing strategies performed the interviews for the intervention. Motivational interviewing is a brief, non-confrontational approach to increase motivation for people who have been reluctant or ambivalent to change. The interviews were designed to assess stage of change and to elicit the subject's personal decisional balance. The content of each phone call was tailored to the subject's stage of change. For the subjects, telephone delivery simplified and created greater access to the population. Delivery and maintenance of such a process, including individually tailored interventions, tracking subjects, data management, follow-up calls and incentives, is a lengthy and involved process. Recommendations and lessons learned for future interventions will be provided.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to: 1) Describe the major facets of this intervention; 2) Assess the resources necessary to undertake this intervention; 3) Discuss how this intervention addresses issues specific to adolescent smokers
Keywords: Adolescents, Smoking
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.