The purpose of this study is to examine whether a correlation exists between adolescent knowledge of the risks of smoking and smoking behavior. Previous studies have focused on the interaction between education level of adolescents and smoking behavior. Four health classes at JFK High School in Bronx, NY were sampled and sixty-nine questionnaires were completed. Students were asked about smoking history and tested on smoking knowledge in 5 categories: lung anatomy, systemic health effects, acute effects of tobacco, chronic effects of tobacco, and general knowledge of cigarettes. 10% were current smokers. No significant difference was found between smokers and non-smokers in overall score or in the above-mentioned categories. Students were additionally asked what types of anti-smoking propaganda they had been exposed to and what types they felt would be most effective. Students reported that understanding the health risks of smoking (29%), hearing personal accounts from people suffering from smoking related diseases (19%), being told not to smoke by a family member (15%), and seeing damage done to a lung by long-term smoking (14%) would be most powerful in convincing them not to smoke. The information gathered from both the knowledge-assessing portion of the test and the anti-smoking-propaganda question was used to design a website (http://bronxsmoke.topcities.com) specifically for the adolescents sampled. Special counters were installed on each website page to monitor student navigation. This project finds no difference in smoking-risk-knowledge between adolescent smokers and non-smokers, but establishes an adaptable method of educating that caters to student wants and needs. See bronxsmoke.topcities.com
Learning Objectives: Participants attending this session will appreciate: 1. The interaction between adolescent smoking behavior and knowledge of risk. 2. The disparity that exists between present strategies of anti-smoking resources and adolescent opinion of effective anti-smoking efforts. 3. A new model for interactive world-wide-web-based health education.
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.