Zhaohui Fan, MD, MPH, Marie A. Bailey, MA, MSW, and Youjie Huang, MD, MPH, DrPH. Bureau of Epidemiology, Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #A-12, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1720, (850) 245-4444 x2434, marie_bailey@doh.state.fl.us

Objective: Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) is an important element in dissuading students from initiating and using tobacco. This study addresses the impact of TUPE on middle and high school students’ attitudes toward tobacco use in Florida. Methods: 2002 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey (FYTS) data was analyzed to assess the difference in attitudes toward tobacco use among middle and high school students who received any TUPE during the current school year and those who did not receive any TUPE. Prevalence rates were adjusted by gender, grade, race and region respectively. Results: Overall, students who had received TUPE demonstrated stronger anti-tobacco attitudes and behaviors than those who had received no TUPE. Among students who received TUPE, 68.5% would definitely not smoke a cigarette offered by a friend, while 62.7% of those who had not received TUPE would decline a cigarette offered by a friend. Of students who received TUPE, 46.3% had asked their friends to quit smoking; 40.7% of those who had not received TUPE had asked their friends to quit smoking. This pattern of anti-tobacco attitudes and behaviors among middle and high school students who had received TUPE versus those who had not received TUPE remains consistent between these two groups of students even after adjusting for gender, grade, race and region. Conclusion: Middle and high school students who received any TUPE had stronger anti-tobacco attitudes and behaviors than those who had not received TUPE. These findings emphasize the importance of TUPE in preventing students from initiating and using tobacco.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the different attitudes toward tobacco use between students who received any TUPE and students who did not receive any TUPE.
• Discuss the association between TUPE and students' intention to use tobacco. 3.Articulate the ways in which receiving TUPE might empower students to abstain from tobacco use.

Keywords: Youth, Education

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.