Effectiveness of Educational Program on Promotion of Smoking Preventive Behaviors in Adolescences

Smoking in adolescent is an important health issue. It is a serious high-risk factor for other risk behaviors in later adulthood. Regarding the start of smoking in lower ages and also the relative risks، giving attention to the level of knowledge and preventive behaviors of smoking is important in adolescents. Therefore، the present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of educational program on promotion of smoking preventive behaviors in adolescences. A quasi-experimental study was carried out in the secondary school male students (2nd grade) of Shiraz، Iran in academic years 2009-2010. Before starting the study، a baseline study was carried out and two schools were selected; then a total number of 240 students were randomly selected for the intervention (n = 120) and the control (n = 120) groups. A questionnaire was designed for the prevention group، and then the data were collected after two months in both groups. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests، paired t-test، McNemar’s test and chi-square test. The results showed that educational intervention had a significant effect on intervention group’s average response for knowledge of smoking side-effects (P < 0. 0001) in addition to average response for the preventive behaviors (P < 0. 0001). Given these findings، educational programs must be applied for promotion of smoking preventive behaviors for controlling and prevention of tobacco use among adolescents.