Recorded presentation

Jeanette I Candelaria, MPH¹, John Elder, PhD², Adriana Villasenor, BS³, Esmeralda Iniguez⁴, and Donald J. Slymen, PhD⁴. (1) Center for Behavioral and Community Health Studies, San Diego State University Foundation, 9245 Sky Park Court, Ste 221, San Diego, CA 92123, (619) 594-2424, jcandelaria@projects.sdsu.edu, (2) Center for Behavioral and Community Health Studies, San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Health, 9245 Sky Park Court, Suite 221, San Diego, CA 92123, (3) Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 9245 Sky Park Court, Ste. 221, San Diego, CA 92123, (4) Center for Behavioral and Community Health Studies, San Diego State University, 9245 Sky Park Court, Ste 221, San Diego, CA 92123

Project FUERTE was a randomized controlled trial that engaged peer advisors to deliver a six-lesson, tobacco use prevention intervention focusing on communication, parental support, self-esteem, media and peer influences to 220 middle school students and their parents in the home. Measures were conducted at baseline, 4 and 12 months, with baseline measures of demographics, smoking behaviors, tobacco accessibility, self-esteem, social support, and a number of other psychosocial characteristics. At baseline, intervention participants (n= 125) were not significantly different by age (55% <12 yrs old, 45% 12 and older), gender (48% female), or ethnicity (93% Latino) than control participants (n= 129; 50% <12 yrs old, 50% 12 and older, 42% female, 92% Latino). Nor did they differ by smoking related characteristics, with 6% of intervention and 2% of control participants reporting ever having smoked, and 8.8% and 7%, respectively, reporting ever having tried smoking. Twenty-one percent of both intervention and 24% of control participants reported living with a parent who smoked, while 22% of intervention and 17% of control participants reported having received offers to smoke. In regard to susceptibility to smoke, the groups were also similar, with 23.2% of intervention and 20.9% of controls considered susceptible based on their responses. This paper will present the final results of Project FUERTE and provide recommendations for other practitioners.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Describe the primary outcome of the Project FUERTE study
• List at least 2 recommendations to consider in conducting similar tobacco use prevention efforts.

Keywords: Tobacco, Youth

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.

Recorded presentation