4005.0: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 - Board 3

Abstract #5070

EFFECTS OF EDUCATION ON SMOKING FOR THE FEMALE STUDENTS IN JAPAN

Megumi Noami1, Toshitaka Nakahara1, Kazuaki Miyagishima1, Kazunari Satomura1, Sachiyo Noami1, and Takehiko Sakurami2. (1) Department of Public Health, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan, +81-75-753-4467, mnoami@pbh.med.kyoto-u.ac.jp, (2) Minamikyushu National Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan

In Japan, the smoking rates of young women are increasing. A questionnaire survey was carried out to clarify effects of education about tobacco for students, among all female students in 4 nurses' schools, one college and one university in Japan. @1371 of 1447 female subjects participated in this survey (the respondent rate: 94.7%). The average age of the students was 20.1}1.8 years old. They had received almost equal compulsory or high school education (the age: 6-18 years old) basically. The smoking rate of whole students was 18.0%, and almost all of them became smokers in high school days. All students had learned about negative health effects of smoking. Both smoking students (=GROUP-S) and non-smoking students (=GROUP-N) had almost the same knowledge about them. There were significant differences in following results (p<0.01): 66.5% in GROUP-N and 55.3% in GROUP-S answered that they learned about tobacco gduring classes in compulsory educationh. 54.3% in GROUP-N and 66.5% in GROUP-S answered that they learned about tobacco gduring classes in university or vocational schoolh. 67.0% in GROUP-N and 55.3% in GROUP-S answered that they learned gby other mediah. @These results suggest that education about negative health effects of smoking in compulsory school has little impact. And education in university or vocational school seems not to be effective to prevent students from becoming smoker. The effectiveness of the media is expected. @In conclusion, present education about tobacco gives small impact to prevent students from becoming smoker. More effective educational method to hate smoking should be involved.

Learning Objectives: In recent years, the negative health effects of smoking have been raising serious concerns all over the world. In Japan, however, the smoking rates of young women are increasing. A questionnaire survey was carried out to clarify effects of education about tobacco for students, among all female students in 4 nurses' schools, one college and one university in Japan. 1371 of 1447 female subjects participated in this survey (the respondent rate: 94.7%). The average age of the students was 20.1}1.8 years old. They had received almost equal compulsory (the age: 6-15 years old) or high school (the age: 16-18 years old) education basically. The smoking rate of whole students was 18.0%, and almost all of them became smokers in high school days. All students had learned about negative health effects of smoking. Both smoking students (=GROUPhSh) and non-smoking students (=GROUPhNh) had almost the same knowledge about them. There were significant differences in following results (p<0.01): 66.5% in GROUPhNh and 55.3% in GROUPhSh answered that they learned about tobacco gduring classes in compulsory educationh. 54.3% in GROUPhNh and 66.5% in GROUPhSh answered that they learned about tobacco gduring classes in university or vocational schoolh. 67.0% in GROUPhNh and 55.3% in GROUPhSh answered that they learned gby TV and other mediah. These results suggest that education about negative health effects of smoking in compulsory school has little impact. And education in university or vocational school seems not to be effective to prevent students from becoming smoker. The effectiveness of the media is expected. In conclusion, present education about tobacco gives small impact to prevent students from becoming smoker. More effective educational method to hate smoking should be involved

Keywords: Tobacco, Tobacco Control

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.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA