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

Abstract #69610

Sharon P. Brown, PhD(c), MN, MPH, Environmental Health Sciences & Policy - Public Health & Epidemiology, University of California-Irvine, School of Social Ecology, Irvine, CA 92697, 520.297.2424, spbrown@uci.edu

Despite the provision of school-based prevention curricula, many children still choose to ignore the negative health risks posed by tobacco use. This cross-sectional analysis of a larger longitudinal study explored the possible connections between elementary [4th & 5th] and middle [6th thru 8th] school students’ perception of the risk of tobacco use, their perceived health self-efficacy levels, and certain intra-personal trait characteristics in relation to their actual or intended tobacco use prevalence rates. Initial findings by ANOVA show significant differences in the two age groups’ perceptions of risk of specific types of tobacco products’ use and their subsequent intent to use or actual use of tobacco. Elementary ages were less likely to have significant differences [0.05 level] in their actual vs. intended use of tobacco for the categories of specific risks associated with smoking cigarettes [0.09], using chewing tobacco [0.49], and environmental tobacco smoke exposure [0.33]. There were, however, significant differences [0.05 level] in middle schoolers’ perception of risk in these categories related to actual tobacco use in all of the same categories; but, there were no such differences found in their intention to use tobacco. The findings suggest that there are sufficient differences for health and educational professionals to consider not only the timing, but also the risk specific content, of tobacco prevention curricula for these younger aged children.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the participant will be able to: 1)identify both elementary and middle school students' perceived levels of tobacco use risks,
• list the rank of specific categories of tobacco use risks identified by both groups, and
• suggest more effective timing of prevention interventions in school-based curricula.

Keywords: Child Health Promotion, Risk Behavior

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.