Middle School Tobacco Use Prevention Project

CHPPR evaluated the effectiveness of CDC-recommended tobacco prevention curricula for preventing tobacco use in North Dakota middle-school youth. These curricula were implemented with students in 6th-8th grades in several participating school districts. The basic components of the project included the following:

1. Determination of appropriate baseline information for tobacco use and other unhealthy behaviors through the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (schools provide permission to access their school district-specific data).

2. Determination of all relevant baseline factors that could influence tobacco use in a particular school/community. This required a small amount of interview time from appropriate school personnel so CHPPR could learn about school tobacco policy, prevention and health promotion activities that were ongoing in the school, and other known community activities that the school supported (e.g., parental involvement in health activities).

3. Coordination with local public health units to ensure availability of curricula ( Towards No Tobacco/TNT or Life Skills Training ) and appropriate teacher training. CHPPR also assisted in the implementation phase by providing teachers with a web-based reporting system, and schools received a computer to facilitate use of this system. Teachers provided brief web-based reports of lessons taught, dates, and comments they wanted to share about the strengths and weaknesses of the lesson. Stipends were given to teachers as compensation for the time they spent completing the web-based reporting forms.
 

Following the program’s completion, CHPPR provided outcome results to school administrators and teachers. Comparative techniques were used to determine the curricula's effectiveness compared to other schools not using the curricula.

If you would like to learn more about tobacco use prevention programs please contact us at (701) 777-4046 or email vogeltan@medicine.nodak.edu