An elementary school tobacco prevention program : designed by and for public health nurses
Date
1997
Authors
Whitehead, Catherine Jane
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Abstract
This paper presents the outcome of Public Health Nurses adopting a comprehensive school health framework that included social marketing strategies and attention to Diffusion of Innovations theory. The result was the design and implementation of a tobacco prevention program for Grade five students by these nurses. The effect of the program on its participants' knowledge and attitudes towards tobacco use and the program was studied.
The findings suggest that the program was successful at maintaining the students' anti-smoking attitudes and reducing the social myths that normalize and support tobacco use by youth. The study also demonstrated that the methods employed to plan and implement the program were effective.
Recommendations from this thesis include the provision of Public Health resources to: continue the Grade five program annually; augment the program with a tobacco prevention program for Grades six through twelve; develop and coordinate a community coalition for Tobacco Reduction; encourage Public Health Nurses to include social marketing and Diffusion of Innovations theory in their practice of health promotion; and to support nurses as researchers in the field.