The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69222

Rhonda Y. Kropp, BSc, BSN, MPH¹, Tricia M. Michels, AB², and Bonnie L. Halpern-Felsher, PhD². (1) Project Director, UCSF Division of Adolescent Medicine, UCSF, 195 Clearview Ave., apt. 1816, Ottawa, ON K1Z 6S1, Canada, 415-514-9214, rkropp@hotmail.com, (2) Dept. of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California St., Ste. 245, Box 0503, San Francisco, CA 94118

Background: Research shows that many adults smoke light cigarettes based on a false belief that they are less addictive and less harmful than regular cigarettes. There is little information however on adolescents’ perceptions of risk associated with smoking light cigarettes. Objectives: 1) To examine adolescents’ perceptions of risk for negative health outcomes and addiction from smoking in general versus smoking light cigarettes, and 2) to compare these risk perceptions between adolescents who have and have not tried smoking. Design: After reading survey scenarios depicting adolescents smoking 2-3 cigarettes and 2-3 light cigarettes each day, 211 ninth graders (mean age 13.52, SD= .42) indicated the percent chance that the smoker in the scenario would experience a number of negative health outcomes and become addicted to cigarettes. Results: Paired t-tests indicated that adolescents believe smoking light cigarettes is less likely to cause a bad cough (mean difference (md) =13.4%, t=7.2), trouble catching breath (md=9.4%, t=5.4), lung cancer (md=19.3%, t=11.6), heart attack (md=19.0%, t=10.4), wrinkles (md=17.6%, t=9.3), and addiction (md=9.4%, t=5.0) (all p’s<.000). No significant difference in these results were found for adolescents who had and had not smoked. Conclusions: Adolescents perceive smoking light cigarettes as less addictive and less harmful to health than smoking in general. This has the potential to result in an increased number of adolescents who start or continue smoking light cigarettes, or utilize them as an alternative to quitting. Interventions to inform adolescents of the true risks associated with smoking light cigarettes are warranted.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to:
• Discuss adolescents' perceptions of risk associated with smoking light cigarettes.
• Discuss the need for creative interventions to educate youth on the risks of smoking light cigarettes.
• Apply the information provided in the session to the planning of interventions to prevent light cigarette use among adolescents.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: University employee