Smoking habits of Grampian school children and an evaluation of the Grampian Smoke Busters campaign

To determine the effect of a Smoke Busters club in reducing the numbers of children recruited to smoking, levels of smoking in Grampian amongst 11-14 year olds were determined at the launch of the club and again 22 months later, using a self-completion questionnaire. Initial smoking levels were similar to Scottish Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) 1986 figures taken 2 years prior to the first Grampian survey. OPCS findings indicated that in Scotland smoking levels had remained fairly stable among girls and had increased among boys between 1986 and 1990. At the second survey in Grampian, smoking levels among girls and boys were lower than in Scotland generally, but it is not possible to know whether this was a result of the campaign or not. There was evidence of a relationship between the smoking habits of children and parents, particularly their mothers. Life-style questions showed that smokers were more likely to take part in activities characteristic of older teenagers and to prefer music which was associated with alternative, rebellious attitudes. Smoke Busters clubs aim to promote a non-smoking life-style amongst young teenagers. After 22 months of a Smoke Busters club, it was evident that at least 32.9% of the target group had joined the club at some point and that it was very popular with its members. Those who joined Smoke Busters were more than twice as likely to remain non-smokers as those who were non-members, but this might not be a function of cause and effect. A further survey is to be undertaken at 4 years after the launch of the club and may allow assessment of any longer-term effects of the club in Grampian.