CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Smoking prevention implementing experiential learning in schools (SMART: Smoking Modification through Active Resistance Training)
1
Hellenic Thoracic Society, Athens, Greece
Tob. Prev. Cessation 2026;12(Supplement 1):A182
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND-AIM:
According WHO, Europe is the world’s biggest consumer of tobacco up to 2030 and reveals particularly concerning trends of tobacco use among young people. Implementing preventive anti-smoking programs in schools is of primary importance in controlling the smoking epidemic but traditional informative programs already failed.
METHODS:
Therefore, we developed experiential learning programs that have not yet been used in smoking prevention, incorporating features of effective cognitive interventions and innovative element of interdisciplinary approach. We used classical Greek and Aesopian fables, which refer to human values, have symbolic content and constitute an educational tool in connecting experiences and relating an unknown situation with an understandable and familiar one. Two groups of students (intervention and control) completed questionnaires about knowledge and attitudes towards tobacco products, before and 3 months after the intervention.
RESULTS:
The intervention has been done to 2000 Schools since 2014. The intervention group showed a significant change in intention to use tobacco products which is the closest variable for predicting human behavior.
CONCLUSIONS:
By experiential learning children recognized health as a major good and primary value, formed attitudes that promote life and health, developed skills to resist peer pressure and social stereotypes and consequently curbed smoking behavior.
According WHO, Europe is the world’s biggest consumer of tobacco up to 2030 and reveals particularly concerning trends of tobacco use among young people. Implementing preventive anti-smoking programs in schools is of primary importance in controlling the smoking epidemic but traditional informative programs already failed.
METHODS:
Therefore, we developed experiential learning programs that have not yet been used in smoking prevention, incorporating features of effective cognitive interventions and innovative element of interdisciplinary approach. We used classical Greek and Aesopian fables, which refer to human values, have symbolic content and constitute an educational tool in connecting experiences and relating an unknown situation with an understandable and familiar one. Two groups of students (intervention and control) completed questionnaires about knowledge and attitudes towards tobacco products, before and 3 months after the intervention.
RESULTS:
The intervention has been done to 2000 Schools since 2014. The intervention group showed a significant change in intention to use tobacco products which is the closest variable for predicting human behavior.
CONCLUSIONS:
By experiential learning children recognized health as a major good and primary value, formed attitudes that promote life and health, developed skills to resist peer pressure and social stereotypes and consequently curbed smoking behavior.
| eISSN: | 2459-3087 |
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