Parents’ perceptions of the role of schools in tob

Authors: Jodi Wyman James H Price Timothy R Jordan Joseph A Dake Susan K Telljohann

Publish Date: 2006/02/16

Volume: 31, Issue: 3, Pages: 225-248

PDF Link

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine Ohio parents’ perceptions of the role of schools in smoking prevention cessation and antitobacco policy for their children A 46item questionnaire was based on the CDC Guidelines for School Health Programs to Prevent Tobacco Use and Addiction Surveys n = 800 were sent to a stratified random sample of parents of junior high and high school aged students and 57 responded Parents were supportive of smoking prevention activities but almost twothirds believed their child’s school should get parents’ input Furthermore mothers/stepmothers were more likely than fathers/stepfathers to agree that the school had a role in smoking prevention activities The majority of parents were also supportive of smoking cessation activities However only 8 of parent respondents supported schools providing nicotine gum or patches to students trying to quit smoking Overall the majority of parents were supportive of the seven recommendations developed by the CDC as guidelines for school health programs to prevent tobacco use and addiction Schools have the opportunity to impact student smoking through prevention and cessation activities Schools need to know that parents are supportive of these activities and want to be included in the process of implementing effective prevention or cessation programsJodi Wyman is a Research Assistant James H Price Professor of Public Health Timothy R Jordan Assistant Professor of Public Health and Susan K Telljohann Professor of Health Education all are affiliated to University of Toledo Toledo OH USA Joseph A Dake is Assistant Professor of Health Education Wayne State University Detroit MI USA

Keywords: