Smoking Status and Related Factors of Korean Middle School Students in 2002

Cheong, Yoo Seock

Abstract

BACKGROUND: According to recent studies of smoking rates among adolescents, the age at which young people begin to smoke is decreasing. The present study reports the results of a survey, conducted by the Korean National Tuberculosis Association (KNTA) in 2002, of the smoking status of Korean middle school students.
METHODS
From April to November 2002, the KNTA surveyed the present smoking status of middle school students (total 14,296: boys-8,697, girls-5,599) according to sex and grade in 125 schools in 12 provinces during a smoking cessation education program.
RESULTS
The survey showed that 18.4% of the males (7th grade-15.8%, 8th grade-17.6%, 9th grade-21.8%) and 8.3% of the females (7th grade-6.2%, 8th grade-9.3%, 9th grade-9.5%) had smoking experience. Approximately 2.5% of the males (7th grade-1.2%, 8th grade-1.8%, 9th grade-4.6%) and 1.0% of the females (7th grade- 0.3%, 8th grade-1.2%, 9th grade-1.5%) smoked regularly. The boys' smoking rate was higher than that of the girls in all grades. Smoking rates varied among the provinces, with Chungbuk having the highest rate (2.8%) and Jeonbuk having the lowest (0.9%). The time when most smokers began to smoke was in 6th grade of elementary school for the boys (15.9%) and 7th grade of middle school for the girls (28.6%). Approximately 69.4% of smokers answered that "curiosity" was the most important motivational factor. Statistical analysis indicated that smoking rates were positively correlated with alcohol use and height of students, but were negatively correlated with parents' level of education. At the end of the smoking cessation education program, the number of smokers had reduced for the boys (from 2.6% to 2.2%), but had increased for the girls (from 1.8% to 2.0%). The pre- program survey on the trans-theoretical stage of smoking cessation revealed that 34.2% fell into a pre- contemplation stage, 34.2% into a contemplation stage, and 31.6% into a preparation stage. The post-education survey showed remarkable changes: 24.0% were in the pre-contemplations stage, 40.0% in the contemplation stage, and 36.0% were in the preparation stage.
CONCLUSION
This study reports the results of a survey, conducted by the KNTA in 2002, concerning the national smoking status of middle school students, relating factors, and levels of motivation for quitting smoking. The smoking cessation education program run by the KNTA had an impact on the motivational stage of smoking cessation.