Evolution of the perception of smoking by children in Guernsey

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gauge how the perception of smoking by children has evolved since the last primary schools survey in Guernsey in 2007 and to investigate whether there is an increase in the percentage of smoke‐free homes since the last survey.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 377 Year 6 (aged 10‐11 years) primary school students were surveyed through an online questionnaire made up of 58 questions and based on the health attitudes of children. The statistics arising from this survey were compared with those obtained in a similar survey in 2007.

Findings

Year 2007, 2009 (respectively): Total=(575, 377); girls (48 per cent, 55 per cent) never smoked (94 per cent, 97 per cent); will not smoke when older (83 per cent, 82 per cent); have a smoke‐free house (60 per cent, 64 per cent); get information about smoking through Guernsey Adolescent Smokefree Project (GASP) (92 per cent, 90 per cent); have never been offered cannabis (91 per cent, 97 per cent).

Originality/value

The results of this survey forced a list of actions to be taken by GASP to ensure that the young people of the island would continue to receive smoke‐free education.

Citation

Amey, V. (2010), "Evolution of the perception of smoking by children in Guernsey", Health Education, Vol. 110 No. 6, pp. 445-451. https://doi.org/10.1108/09654281011087251