The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43940

Meghan O'Connell, MPH¹, Matthew Freeman, MPH², Georgia Jennings, MPH¹, Laura Greci, MD¹, Wendy Chan, MPH¹, and David L. Katz, MD, MPH³. (1) Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418, 203-732-1265, meghan.oconnell@yalegriffinprc.org, (2) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale School of Medicine, 60 College St, New Haven, CT 06515, (3) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8034

Purpose: To design and test a smoking cessation program tailored to the needs of adolescents as determined through focus groups.

Methods: Established adolescent smoking cessation programs were presented to students during focus groups at one Connecticut high school. Focus group participants’ feedback was used to modify intervention methods, and develop a tailored program.

Results: Focus group participants strongly supported the development of tailored interventions, including stress reduction training, physician counseling, and use of bupropion. A program was developed based on these and other requests; parental consent was obtained for the use of bupropion and smoking cessation information was made available to parents. Twenty-three students enrolled, a number three times greater than for previously offered programs at this school. Eleven students and 3 parents used bupropion as an aid for quitting; student adherence to bupropion was poor, and no student attributed cessation to its use. Of 23 students initially enrolled, 20 were still involved at study termination, and of this group, 30% quit smoking, and 55% cut down significantly.

Conclusions: Tailoring interventions, providing bupropion, and concomitant parental cessation programs show promise for enhancing the appeal and efficacy of adolescent smoking cessation programs, and warrant further evaluation.

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of the session, participants will be able to describe the components of a novel approach to adolescent smoking cessation.
• By the end of the session, participants will be able to assess the value of conducting further research into the use of pharmacotherapy to assist adolescents to quit smoking.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.