Paper 73: Evaluation of European Adolescent Smoking Cessation Pilot Programme
Keywords: smoking; cessation; adolescents; process evaluation.
Smoking cessation is well documented to be a clinically effective and cost effective health care intervention for adults. However, there has been limited research about whether the provision of smoking cessation services would be as appropriate for the adolescent age group, given the differences in their smoking behaviour and attitude.
Following pilot adolescent smoking cessation schemes in Denmark, the Netherlands and Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government led the development of further pilot projects in: Belgium; Denmark; Greece; the Netherlands; Portugal; the Slovak Republic; Spain and Wales. Most projects delivered school-based weekly cessation sessions over a six to eight week period focussing on 16 to 18 year olds. However, there was variation in the approach adopted and in the contexts in which projects operated.
Researchers from the Cardiff Institute of Society, Health and Ethics (CISHE) were appointed to evaluate the EU funded pilot programme focussing on a process evaluation of how the programme was implemented, delivered and supported in three case study countries. This report includes key lessons about what works in terms of setting up and implementing projects with a particular focus on adapting smoking cessation activities for adults to the different and changing needs of adolescents.
Working Paper 73: Evaluation of European Adolescent Smoking Cessation Pilot Programme, Series Working Paper Series, (2005), ISBN 1 - 904815-41-3