Church leaders' opinions about tobacco prevention

Abstract

Purpose

To assess what volunteers‐ and ministers of faith‐based organizations (FBO) think about their own expertise in delivering a tobacco prevention initiative, the impact of such an initiative on youth, their potential for burnout in doing so, and their interest in other health initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 149 volunteers and ministers attending a tobacco prevention workshop anonymously answered questions about its impact, and their own expertise, potential for burnout, and interest in other health initiatives.

Findings

Respondents strongly endorsed their personal expertise and the impact of tobacco prevention on youth. On burnout, ministers were significantly lower (an average answer of “don't know”) than teachers and others (an average answer of “disagree”); on other health initiatives, ministers were significantly more interested (an average answer of “strongly”) than teachers (an average answer of “moderately”). All were significantly more positive about offering other health initiatives if they had materials than if they had money.

Research limitations/implications

Most respondents were African‐American, a higher percentage of ministers were men than among those in other positions, and all respondents came from a church that applied for, and received, a tobacco‐prevention grant – points that limit generalizability.

Practical implications

Those responsible for health initiatives would be well advised to direct their resources into developing appropriate materials rather than into paying people to deliver the programs.

Originality/value

Although FBOs provide fertile ground for health initiatives such as tobacco prevention, ministers may be more susceptible to burnout than volunteers.

Citation

Reinert, B., Carver, V. and Range, L. (2006), "Church leaders' opinions about tobacco prevention", Health Education, Vol. 106 No. 3, pp. 201-209. https://doi.org/10.1108/09654280610658541