Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the current status of managing educational programs for tobacco use prevention at middle and high schools located in Busan. Methods: Using a survey method with a 29-item self-administration questionnaire, the data were collected from January 10 through February 18, 2005, from school nurses as well as teachers major in healthcare of 227 participant schools. Results: A strategic plan for school-based educational programs of tobacco use prevention was mainly developed by a school nurse at middle school and a teacher in charge of school discipline at high school. The educational programs for tobacco use prevention were implemented for approximately 40% of schools in Busan with the budget ranged from 110,000 won to 200,000 won a year. Eighty five percepts of the schools had anti-tobacco regulations and guidelines in place. Twenty two percents of the middle and high schools collected the data regarding adolescents' smoking status periodically. Over 70% of schools provided tobacco use prevention education programs as a part of regular semester curriculum. Conclusions: For making the management of educational programs for tobacco use prevention effective and consistent with government's anti-smoking policy, schools need (a) development of tobacco management guideline and regulations with participation of teachers, students, and parents, (b) clear job and role descriptions for personnel to plan and implement anti-tobacco programs, (c) compilation of the budget enough to implement the programs, (d) periodically assessment of adolescents' smoking status, and evaluation of the programs to monitor whether those are effective for adolescents' health promotion; and (e) to make an effort to less range of quality in educational programs for tobacco use.
