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

Abstract #68020

Carrie M. Murray, MS, Public and Community Health, University of Maryland, University of Maryland, HHP Building Valley Drive, College Park, MD, MD 20742-2611, 301-405-2084, murrayc@wam.umd.edu, Nancy L. Atkinson, PhD, Public Health Informatics Research Laboratory, University of Maryland, Department of Public and Community Health, Suite 2387 Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742, Robert Gold, PhD, Department of Public and Community Health, University of Maryland, Suite 2387 Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742-2611, Russell Henke, Montgomery County Public Schools, Coordinator of Health Education, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, and Barbara Pearlman, Montgomery County Public Schools, Tobacco Prevention Specialist, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate two tobacco and substance use prevention curricula being delivered in 36 middle schools in a suburban middle school system. Project Towards No Tobacco Use (Project TNT) is a comprehensive, classroom-based curriculum that is being used with sixth grade students. Project ALERT is a curriculum being used with seventh and eighth grade students. The study objective was to survey sixth and seventh grade students who received the Project TNT and Project ALERT curriculum to collect data regarding their knowledge and attitudes surrounding tobacco and substance use and prevention. A convenience sample of sixth grade classes and seventh grade classes were recruited (two classes in each grade from each middle school) to participate in the experimental condition. Classes included approximately thirty students. Researchers administered the survey to participants in the classroom before and after completion of the prevention curriculum. Pretest data collection occurred at the beginning of the marking period, and posttest data collection occurred at the end of the marking period. We will present the results of the study and identify significant changes in student knowledge and attitudes between pre and posttest assessment.

Learning Objectives:

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, the participants in the session will be able to: (
• Describe a model for a school-based program evaluation; (
• Identify components of the school system’s prevention programs and evaluation processes; and (
• Apply the information presented in the development of similar evaluation processes to other school-based programs.

Keywords: Tobacco, Evaluation

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.