The purpose of this study was to examine the application of the stages of change framework to young adolescent smoking behavior in Taiwan; to assess relationships of the stages of change with self-efficacy and decisional balance in school-age children. Before doing the formal study, the preliminary work consisted of translation and back translation of the instruments, focus group, a panel of experts, and pilot testing of the STAQ, SE, and DBS scales was done to establish reliability and validity of the instruments. A random sample of 401 fifth, sixth, and seventh grade students was recruited from two elementary schools and one junior high school in Taiwan. The results of this study showed that students who were at precontemplation stage had significant higher self-efficacy to resist in starting smoking than those who were at decision making stage or maintenance stage. Additionally, the decision makers and the maintainers weighed the proponents of smoking greater than the consequences of smoking, in contrast to the precontemplators' decision making. Through the discriminant function analysis, one significant function including the self-efficacy and decisional balance predictors could correctly predict a considerable proportion of membership (76.8%). Although the findings of this study were different from the original model, they provided preliminary evidence that there were three stages of smoking acquisition behavior. The study findings suggested that nurses and the health care providers use stage-specific skills to develop effective smoking prevention programs.
Learning Objectives: The audience will be able to 1. Recognize the stages of smoking acquisition among Taiwanese young adolescents. 2. Apply the stages of change framework to other behavior change. 3. Discuss cultur influence in young adolescent smoking
Keywords: Taiwan Health, Smoking
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.