喫煙防止教育前後における高校生の喫煙に対する態度と意識の変化

In order to prevent the smoking habit, it is important to start a smoking prevention education （SPE）earlier. Implementing educational intervention with appropriate timing and content is necessary during and after the high school years when a smoking habit is easily formed. The purpose of this research was to clarify high school students’ attitudes and beliefs towards smoking before and after SPE and to examine how to provide optimal SPE in the future. The subjects were ６８０ high school students in the A prefecture. The SPE was implemented, their attitudes and beliefs towards smoking habit were measured using a scale of“belief and attitude towards smoking habits”, and its changes were assessed before and after the education and eight months later. The scores showed significant change in negative attitude toward smoking habit immediately after the SPE. However, the survey after eight months showed the SPE effects were not maintained except one item. Gender and the presence or absence of smokers in their family was involved in the continuation of the effects of SPE. It was suggested that it is necessary to have an appropriate intervention method to the subjects’ characteristics and the optimal intervention timing should be discussed and an approach to reinforce the continuance of effects of SPE are required for the SPE in the future.