A Self-Reflection Program for Smoking Cessation in Adolescents: A Phenomenological Study

The study aimed to understand the experiences of adolescent smokers who participated in a self-reflection program for smoking cessation and to develop the theoretical basis for constructing similar programs. The program is unique from other smoking cessation programs in that it seeks to be creative and allow participants to establish an individualized vision for themselves. The participants, ten students from middle and high schools located in cities A and S, were interviewed right after the program ended. Data were collected from August to December 2019 and analyzed using a phenomenological approach to understand participant experiences in depth. The analysis revealed five major themes: ‘Uniqueness of the Program,’ ‘Perception of Smoking Cessation,’ ‘Positive Reflection on Life,’ ‘Understanding Others,’ and ‘A Search for Hope and Vision in Life.’ The findings revealed that their smoking behaviors were changed through self-reflection and enhancement of self-efficacy and that the program facilitated the formation of identity and vision for the future, which may indirectly strengthen the motivation for adolescent smokers to quit smoking. These findings suggest the need for a smoking cessation program that enhances self-concept and self-esteem. Moreover, it highlights the importance of follow-up research to ensure effectiveness and the need to develop programs with creative content.

[Effects of a Strength Based I-Change Smoking Cessation Program for Smoking Middle School Boys]

PURPOSE

This study was done to develop a strength based I-change smoking cessation program for middle school boys and identified its effects.

METHODS

The study design was a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. The participants were 97 middle school students from D city, who were in school from April 6 to September 25, 2015. The experimental group participated in the strength based I-change smoking cessation program, while the comparative group participated in a general smoking cessation program. The control group did not participate in any program. Data analyses involved χ²-test, Fishers' exact test, Bonferroni test, and Repeated measures ANOVA, with the IBM SPSS for Windows (version 20.0) program.

RESULTS

Compared to the comparison and control groups, the experimental group showed significant improvement in knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, behavior change. Also cotinine in urine and modeling of social influence in the experimental group significantly decreased after the strength based I-change smoking cessation program.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that the strength based I-change smoking cessation program is an effective intervention for middle school boys who smoke. The findings suggest that such programs can be used at public health centers or through school health education to decrease smoking in adolescents.