Effects of the new smoker prevention program among vocational students

Abstract

The objective of this quasi-experimental research was to examine effects of a new smoker prevention program for vocational students by applying the theory of planned behavior. The sample of 58 students were purposively selected. They were  male vocational students, aged 15-18 years which were assigned into the experimental group (n = 29) and the comparison group (n = 29). Data collection was performed at pre-test, at post-test (week 4) and at follow-up (week 6). Percentage, frequency, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test, Fisher's Exact test, Independent t-test, and Repeated Measures ANOVA were employed for data analyses. Results revealed that the experimental group’s attitudes toward smoking prevention behavior and intention not to smoke average scores at post-test and at follow up were greater than those at pre-test (p < .001). Comparing between groups at post-test and at follow-up revealed that the experimental group had greater average scores of attitudes toward smoking prevention behavior, subjective norm to smoking prevention behavior, perceived behavioral control on smoking prevention, and intention not to smoke than those of the comparison group (p < .05). However, the difference between groups of smoking prevention behavior average scores, at post-test and at follow up was not found.