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Adolescents' view on smoking, quitting and health education

Froukje Dijk (Maastricht University, Maastrict, The Netherlands)
Jascha de Nooijer (Maastricht University, Maastrict, The Netherlands)
Evelien Heinrich (Maastricht University, Maastrict, The Netherlands)
Hein de Vries (Maastricht University, Maastrict, The Netherlands)

Health Education

ISSN: 0965-4283

Article publication date: 27 February 2007

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to explore the beliefs of 15‐17 year‐old Dutch adolescents about starting or quitting smoking and to explore their preferences regarding education concerning this topic.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper shows that a total of 12 group interviews were held with 101 students in the highest classes in secondary school (lower and higher secondary school and first class of intermediate vocational education).

Findings

The findings in this paper indicate that most adolescents started smoking to be cool and because they were curious about the taste of a cigarette. Smokers felt that smoking is sociable and relaxing, while non‐smokers emphasized the negative consequences of smoking. Smokers expected to quit smoking when the price of cigarettes further increased, or when they fell ill as a result of smoking. They did not expect to receive social support from their friends and parents during a quit attempt. The hardest times during their quit attempts would be in the presence of smoking friends, when feeling stressed or during a night out. Adolescents preferred to receive future education through the internet. A web site should consist of much colour and animated images, but should also be serious.

Originality/value

The paper shows that computer tailoring could be an effective method of educating adolescents about (quitting) smoking through the internet, since it links up with their personal situation and therefore relevant advice can be given.

Keywords

Citation

Dijk, F., de Nooijer, J., Heinrich, E. and de Vries, H. (2007), "Adolescents' view on smoking, quitting and health education", Health Education, Vol. 107 No. 2, pp. 114-125. https://doi.org/10.1108/09654280710731539

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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