Smoking Prevention Program for Schools

The objectives of the smoking prevention program for schools are the same as those of the smoking prevention program in kindergartens used for many years with success in several hundred kindergartens:
- To provide children aged 6-10 with information about the health damaging effects of smoking on a level corresponding to their age;
- To develop a deliberate and active behavior against the compulsion of passive smoking,
- To make the children understand the meaning of the "cherry symbol".

Practical experience and the opinion of the teachers showed that it is not possible to implement smoking prevention at schools only during the compulsory lessons. So something, like an interactive, smoking-related game is needed, which is attractive enough to draw children´s attention even in the breaks and in their leisure time in the afternoons. This instrument is the kiosk, which consists of a touch-screen computer and a multifunctional kiosk-house. With the help of the software the children can play with different and interesting games: puzzle, painting, memory, game of tag, and interactive cartoon. The selection of the games can be made simply by touching the particular points of the screen.

Press Material

According to statistical data, people not only try their first cigarette, but also start smoking regularly at increasingly younger age. The child, who left kindergarten and started elementary school, is much more exposed to effects, coming from older students, that present smoking as a model to be followed.
One of the most important objective of a smoking prevention program is to expose children to opinion forming experiences, on the effects of which, later less children try the cigarette, and less children get addicted to smoking.

The objectives of the smoking prevention program for schools are the same as those of the smoking prevention program in kindergartens used for many years with success in several hundred kindergartens:
- To provide children aged 6-10 with information about the health damaging effects of smoking on a level corresponding to their age;
- To develop a deliberate and active behavior against the compulsion of passive smoking,
- To make the children understand the meaning of the "cherry symbol"

Practical experience and the opinion of the teachers showed that it is not possible to implement smoking prevention at schools only during the compulsory lessons. So something, like an interactive, smoking-related game is needed, which is attractive enough to draw children´s attention even in the breaks and in their leisure time in the afternoons. This instrument is the kiosk, which consists of a touch-screen computer and a multifunctional kiosk-house. With the help of the software the children can play with  different and interesting games: puzzle, painting, memory, game of tag, and interactive cartoon. The selection of the games can be made simply by touching the particular points of the screen.

The kiosk was tested in 3 schools on December 4th 2001 as a model experiment. The experience obtained is clearly favorable: the children were pleased to play with this interesting new game placed on the corridor of the school, they turned with interest toward the topic, and the attitude of both the teachers and the parents were positive. The games are designed to help children get to know the cherry symbol, to understand its meaning, and to form a positive picture about the non-smoking lifestyle. Of course the OEFI Smoking Prevention Program for Schools does not only consist of the kiosk and CD containing the game software, our plans include the development of a school program box containing a variety of interactive visual aids.

The game software and the kiosk was reviewed by Anna Hamrák, research worker of the National Public Education Institute and recommended for dissemination in schools.

Of course the OEFI Smoking Prevention Program for Schools does not only consist of the kiosk and CD containing the game software, our plans include the development of a school program box containing a variety of interactive visual aids.

Evaluation

The game software and the kiosk was reviewed by Anna Hamrák, research worker of the National Public Education Institute and recommended for dissemination in schools.

In addition to the positive opinion of the National Public Education Institute, it is necessary to work out and implement the method of longitudinal study through the involvement and active participation of the OEFI’s Developing and Analising Department, and the County Health Promotion Departments of the National Public Health and Medical Officer Service (ÁNTSZ) and the Teachers’ Training Institutes.

Contacts:
Organization Name: National Institute for Health Promotion, Address: 1062 Budapest, Andrássy út 82. Phone: 06 1 428 8272 Fax: 06 1 428 8273 E-mail: Webpage: www.oefi.hu	Professional contact Name: Demjén Tibor section manager, smoking Prevention and Cessation Assistance Group Address: 1062 Budapest, Andrássy út 82. Phone: 06 1 301 7603 Fax: 06 1 3125 020 E-mail: