Development and testing of an antitobacco school-based curriculum for deaf and hard of hearing youth

Am Ann Deaf. 2011 Winter;155(5):592-604. doi: 10.1353/aad.2011.0009.

Abstract

A tobacco use prevention curriculum tailored for deaf/hard of hearing youth was tested using a quasi-experimental design. Two schools for the deaf received the curriculum; two served as noncurriculum controls. Surveys assessed changes in tobacco use, tobacco education exposure, and tobacco-related attitudes and knowledge among students in grades 7-12 over 3 school years (n = 511-616). Current (past month) smoking decreased significantly at one intervention school (23% to 8%,p = .007), and current smokeless tobacco use at the other (7.5% to 2.5%, p = .03). Tobacco education exposure and antitobacco attitudes and knowledge increased significantly at one or both intervention schools. At one control school, reported tobacco education exposure decreased (p < .001) and antitobacco attitudes increased (p = .01). The results indicate that the curriculum increased perceived tobacco education exposure and significantly affected tobacco-related practices, attitudes, and knowledge.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior
  • California
  • Child
  • Child Behavior
  • Curriculum
  • Education of Hearing Disabled*
  • Education, Special / methods*
  • Female
  • Health Education*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Persons With Hearing Impairments / psychology
  • Program Development
  • Program Evaluation
  • Smoking / psychology
  • Smoking Cessation* / psychology
  • Smoking Prevention*
  • Students* / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time Factors