THE N-O-T PROGRAM: YOUTH CESSATION OUTCOMES AND MOTIVATION TO QUIT

Tworek, Cindy

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Exhibit Hall (Kansas City Convention Center)

Dr. Cindy Tworek, PhD, MPH , Pharmaceutical Systems and Policy Translational Tobacco Reduction Program (T2R2), West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Dr. Kimberly Horn, EdD , Community Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Andrew Anesetti-Rothermel, MPH , Community Medicine , West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation attendees will be able to:

Recognize N-O-T as an evidence-based smoking cessation program targeting teens that has been implemented in schools and communities across multiple states. Identify motivation to quit as relevant to youth cessation outcomes. Understand how motivation to quit is related to smoking cessation outcomes among youth who have participated in the Not-On-Tobacco Cessation Program.

Cross Cutting Program Area(s): Youth

Audience: The primary audience is tobacco cessation specialists or any type of health educator working in the field of youth tobacco cessation, including school and community-based programs. Researchers, policy-makers, and advocates working in the field of youth tobacco cessation will also find this presentation relevant.

Key Points: Not On Tobacco (N-O-T) is an evidence-based cessation program targeting teens implemented in school systems across multiple states. Motivation to quit, in addition to confidence and readiness to quit, have often been important to successful cessation outcomes, and studied here with N-O-T quitting outcomes among youth. This study included 1,940 N-O-T participants 14-19 years old across five states (FL, NJ, NC, WI, WV) implementing N-O-T in middle schools and/or high schools from 2000-2009. Eligible participants smoked at least one cigarette in the last 30 days and completed N-O-T from baseline through 3-month follow-up. Results showed a significant relationship between motivation to quit and attitude towards quitting with successful cessation outcomes. Youth more motivated to quit with a more positive attitude towards quitting were less likely to be smoking at 3-month follow-up in the N-O-T program.

Educational Experience: The audience will learn key points from observing the poster presented graphically to convey findings related to the N-O-T program and the main message that youth cessation programs should consider and encourage motivation.

Benefits: Findings suggest the importance of behavioral interventions to increase motivation and positive attitudes towards quitting before, during, and after youth participate in cessation programs. Effective strategies to assess and increase youth motivation to quit should be encouraged.

73 THE N-O-T PROGRAM: YOUTH CESSATION OUTCOMES AND MOTIVATION TO QUIT