Virtual Library
Start Your Search
A. Guerra
Author of
-
+
P1.12 - Poster Session/ Community Practice (ID 232)
- Event: WCLC 2015
- Type: Poster
- Track: Community Practice
- Presentations: 1
- Moderators:
- Coordinates: 9/07/2015, 09:30 - 17:00, Exhibit Hall (Hall B+C)
-
+
P1.12-006 - Factors That Influence Tobacco Consumption Among Portuguese Adolescents (ID 2294)
09:30 - 09:30 | Author(s): A. Guerra
- Abstract
Background:
The majority of smokers start smoking at a very early age. Many teenagers, who start smoking at school age, are at increased risk of becoming adult smokers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate family and social factors that might contribute to the acquisition of smoking in Portuguese adolescents.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 285 healthy adolescents (15–19 years old) of both sex attending 3 high schools (public and private) from northern Portugal. The smoking habits of teenagers were evaluated according to a protocol adapted from the Global Youth Survey (GYTS), Center of Disease Control and Prevention (2001). The questionnaire consisted of 34 questions related to tobacco consumption, knowledge and attitudes towards smoking, smoking cessation, school regulation and the family role in preventing smoking. Participants were classified as: 1 - never having tried smoking; 2 - have just tried smoking (not smoked in the previous month); 3 - occasional smokers (smoked at least 1 day during the previous month); 4 - current smokers (smoked at least 20 days in the previous month). The protocol was approved by the School Direction and statistical analysis was performed with SPSS ® for the entire sample and by gender.
Results:
Of the total sample (n=285), 46% were males and 54% females with an average age of 16.6±1.2 years (minimum:15; maximum:19). About 59.6% of adolescents have experienced smoking at least once, 54% of whom were female. Although the average age of tobacco onset was between 12-15 years (64%), we found that 21% of subjects experienced smoking before 11 years of age. Regarding parents tobacco use, there is a higher percentage of smoking fathers (30.2%) versus 15.2% of mothers. 38% (n=170) of smoking adolescents do it in public places, mainly in social events (65%) and with friends (91%). It is noteworthy that the major causes referred by the adolescents to smoke were: have many smoking friends [girls: OR=44,0 (9,932- 194,92)] (p<0,001); boys: OR=33,21 (6,14-179,65)] (p<0,001) and a smoking mother [girls: OR=4,39 (1,417-13,637)] (p=0,010); boys: OR=2,627 (0,824-8,378)] (p=0,103).
Conclusion:
It should be noted that in addition to early initiation, a high percentage of adolescents smoke regularly. Having parents and/or friends who smoke are the highest prediction factors for adolescent smoking. This study highlights the importance for an effective intervention in respect to tobacco harmful effects, with strong family involvement, in order to reduce consumption and prevent its negative health consequences, as well as the morbidity and mortality associated.
