| 2003 |
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YEAR BOOK |
Moyne Community School, Longford
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Smoking - information affects practice?
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Firstly, using a questionnaire, we obtained an accurate picture of the current prevalence of smoking among the student population of our school. We analysed the extent of the knowledge that teenage smokers and non-smokers had of its health affects, and investigated gender differences, reasons for smoking and demographics.
Statistical analysis showed:
_ 1)�A gender difference in the incidence of smoking with boys starting their habit at a younger age than girls and giving up sooner.
_ 2)�Younger smokers were as likely to be addicted to cigarette smoking as older students.
_ 3)�There was a great diversity in the students' knowledge, and hence a need for the provision of accurate information on the health effects of smoking.
So evolved our 'Information Day'. Accurate and non-sensational information was provided to the student population of our school with the help of the Health Promotion Unit of the Midland Health Board. On the day, a number of communication media were used to provide information. Thereafter we carried out a second survey to analyse the effect on practice and attitudes to smoking. We found that there was a heightened awareness among our peers of the health affects of smoking and an increased desire among most smokers to stop or reduce smoking practice. A small percentage of both boys and girls stopped smoking permanently. The Information Day had a greater impact on the female and junior students of the school. Smokers cited addiction as a major reason for returning to previous levels, having reduced their habit in the short-term after the Information Day.
Through our investigation we have come to understand that smoking information campaigns need to be 'tailor made' for different age groups and genders. An awareness programme should be accurate, informative, continuous, age appropriate, visual and interactive. Images used should emphasise internal health affects on the body for boys and external affects on the body for girls. Any campaign targeted at young people needs to adopt the approach of life skills and education rather than preaching and scare mongering. Most important of all, information can and will affect practice.
Dermot McGlade, Catriona Connolly & Jennifer Matthews entered their project in the Senior Group Section in the Social and Behavioural Sciences Category at the Esat BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in January 2003. They won a special award sponsored by ASH Ireland.
Their teachers were Ms Louise Killian and Fr. Declan Shannon
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