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Evaluation of the ASCENT Smoking Cessation Program for Adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Jeffrey Hoffman*
Affiliation:
Danya International, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America. jhoffman@danya.com
Susanna Nemes
Affiliation:
Social Solutions International, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America.
Jennifer Weil
Affiliation:
Social Solutions International, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America.
Sharon Zack
Affiliation:
Danya International, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America.
Kelly Munly
Affiliation:
Danya International, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America.
Lauren Hess
Affiliation:
Social Solutions International, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America.
*
*Address for correspondence: Jeffrey Hoffman, President and CEO, Danya International, Inc., 8737 Colesville Road, Suite 1100, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to evaluate the Adolescent Smoking Cessation Escaping Nicotine and Tobacco (ASCENT) program, a multifaceted smoking cessation intervention for teens, aged 14 to 18. Seven schools were randomised into either an intervention group (n = 61) or a comparison control group (n = 44). Findings suggested that 67% of the teens in the experimental group reported they did not smoke daily in the past 12 months, compared to 42% of the control group (p < .05). In addition, experimental (treated) youth reduced their smoking from an average of 8 cigarettes a day at baseline to 6 cigarettes a day (p < .05). Although not statistically significant, the overall 1-year quit rate for both groups was higher than the average rate for youth cessation programs (12%). The results of this study suggest that, with appropriate interventions, it is feasible to reduce youth smoking.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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