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A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Theory-Informed School-Based Intervention to Prevent Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking: Changes in Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviors in 6th and 7th Graders in Lebanon
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Theory-Informed School-Based Intervention to Prevent Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking: Changes in Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviors in 6th and 7th Graders in Lebanon

Rima Nakkash, Tamara Lotfi, Dima Bteddini, Pascale Haddad, Hala Najm, Lina Jbara, Hala Alaouie, Lama Al Aridi, Ahmad Al Mulla, Ziyad Mahfoud, …
International journal of environmental research and public health, Vol.15(9), p.1839
08/26/2018
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15091839
PMCID: PMC6163698
PMID: 30149668
url
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15091839View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) is spreading worldwide. Research has indicated health consequences of WTS similar to cigarettes. Prevalence of WTS is high among young people. In Lebanon, current use rates of 35% have been documented among 13⁻15 year olds. We evaluated a school-based intervention. : We conducted a randomized-controlled-trial of a theory-informed WTS intervention. The intervention consisted of ten sessions based on social cognitive theory and the social influences approach. Thirty-one schools participated: 14 intervention and 17 control; a total of 1279 students completed pre and post assessments. We measured knowledge, attitudes and self-reported behaviors related to WTS using Chi-square tests and regression analyses to compare results between the two study arms. : The intervention increased knowledge of intervention group compared to control group participants-about WTS constituents and health consequences; and shifted attitudes of intervention group participants to be even more unfavorable towards WTS. We found no impact of the intervention on WTS behaviors. : The effectiveness of the intervention on knowledge and attitudes supports previous research. The lack of intervention effect on behavior is not surprising given the timing of the post assessment immediately after the intervention, and the social context that was supportive of waterpipe use.
Adolescent Child Female Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Humans Lebanon Male Schools - statistics & numerical data Smoking Prevention - methods Social Environment Students - statistics & numerical data Tobacco Smoking - prevention & control Tobacco, Waterpipe

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