A Randomized Intervention of Smoking for Adolescents in Urban Wuhan, China

Authors

C. Anderson Johnson, Claremont Graduate UniversityFollow
Chih-Ping Chou, University of Southern California
Yan Li, Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Jennifer B. Unger, University of Southern California
Jiang Xia, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ping Sun, University of Southern California
Qian Guo, University of Southern California
Sohaila Shakib, University of Southern California
Jie Gong, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Bin Xie, University of Southern California
Chunhong Liu, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Stanley P. Azen, University of Southern California
Jianguo Shan, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Huiyan Ma, University of Southern California
Paula Palmer, Claremont Graduate UniversityFollow
Peggy E. Gallaher, University of Southern California

Document Type

Article

Department

Community and Global Health (CGU)

Publication Date

4-2006

Disciplines

Health Psychology | Mental and Social Health | Social Psychology and Interaction | Substance Abuse and Addiction

Abstract

Background

Tobacco use is a significant public health problem in China. Culturally specific smoking prevention programs are needed for Chinese adolescents. This study evaluated a school-based smoking prevention curriculum with a social normative approach developed in the United States for adolescents in urban Wuhan, China.

Methods

As a randomized trial, the intervention was implemented in 1998 with 7th grade students in seven schools with seven matched control schools. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to compare ever and recent (past-month) smoking behaviors for the control and program conditions.

Results

At the 1-year follow-up, smoking had increased more rapidly in the control schools than in the program schools. The odds of baseline nonsmokers initiating smoking did not differ between the program and control groups (OR = 1.08 with 95% CI = 0.71, 1.64). The program prevented progression to recent smoking among boys who were baseline ever smokers. Among boys who were recent smokers at baseline, the prevention program significantly reduced risk of remaining recent smokers at follow-up (OR = 0.45 with 95% CI = 0.23, 0.88).

Conclusions

This social normative smoking prevention curriculum did not demonstrate a significant primary prevention effect but showed potential for secondary prevention. Culturally specific smoking prevention programs are needed for Chinese adolescents.

Rights Information

© 2006 The Institute For Cancer Prevention and Elsevier Inc

DOI

10.1016/j.ypmed.2006.01.002

Recommended Citation

Chou, C.P., Li, Y., Unger, J.B., Xia, J., Sun, P., Guo, Q., Shakib, S., Gong, J., Xie, B., Liu, C., Azen, S., Shan, J., Ma, H., Palmer, P., Gallaher, P., & Johnson, C.A. A randomized intervention of smoking for adolescents in urban Wuhan, China. Prev Med, 42(4), 280-5, 2006.