I Want I Can: Effectiveness of School Based Program for Teachers, Parents and Children to Promote Free Smoke Environments

Multiple studies have proven that drug prevention programs in schools have reduced the numbers of individuals who participate in smoking, binge drinking, drug use, delinquency, and violence (Botvin, 2006). The objective of this project was to implement an integral and comprehensive education program in the areas of health and life skills focused on the prevention of substance abuse, specifically the prevention of tobacco use.

Method: As part of a randomized trial, 625 students, 27 teachers and 200 parents either received the parent prevention program or served as control group participants.

Procedure: 1) Development of content and materials for the program specifically designed for 4^thgrade primary school teachers and parents. 2) Implementation of a 40-hour training workshop for teachers, focused on the development of life skills for the prevention of different psychosocial risks, specifically the prevention of tobacco use. 3) Implementation of 4-hour interactive training workshops for parents, with strategies for effective parenting and protective factors related to substance abuse 4) Accompaniment for teachers during process of replication through visits in participating schools.

Results: Quantitative and qualitative strategies were applied for the evaluation of each group (teachers, parents, and children). Pre-post evaluation was carried out.

Teachers: The program was accepted by the teachers, who perceived it as being highly useful and were able to incorporate the contents into classroom activities. Collected testimonies reinforce these findings. Quantitatively, a statistically significant effect was found in the teachers, who showed a significant increase in the knowledge and skills to prevent substance abuse and other risks.

Parents: Significant effects in knowledge regarding substance abuse prevention. On a qualitative level, mothers and fathers recognized the importance of life skills as protective factors and learned several strategies to promote them.

Children: Quantitative differences were observed between in the experimental group. Children changed their perceptions in regards to considering tobacco as a drug (F= 2083 df=1 p<.01). Also, children in the group that participated in the program showed a statistically significant increase in self-efficacy in relation to the ability to establish limits and protect oneself from environments contaminated by tobacco smoke (F=4062 df=1 p<.01).

Conclusions: The program had a significant effect on all three participating groups. It is necessary to continue with specific strategies such as those developed in this program, in order to address issues such as alcohol consumption, which occurs in these populations prior to puberty, and to prevent the use of illegal drugs. The behavioral effects of competence-enhancement drug prevention programs can extend to other risk behaviors.