| Research studies have demonstrated that research tested school based tobacco use prevention programs are effective in the prevention of smoking behaviors in adolescents. Several resources have been utilized to make these programs available to schools. However, research has been sparse in understanding actual program implementation (e.g., types of curricula and amount of teacher training), especially at the elementary school level; and whether these programs are having an effective impact on early adolescent tobacco use related outcomes. Thus, this dissertation study focused on examining the associations between implementation factors and tobacco related outcomes on youth participants. Cross-sectional data were obtained from both teachers and principals in 52 elementary schools that participated in the large-scale Independent Evaluation study of the California Tobacco Control Program.;Results indicated that there was a trend towards an optimistic attitude and good school climate for tobacco prevention education in schools (e.g., value of teaching tobacco prevention education, school priority for teaching tobacco prevention education, and overall teacher morale); however, actual implementation of tobacco prevention programming (including training, and implementation of the curriculum and its activities) showed an unexpectedly low trend. Further, results indicated that the implementation index was not predictive of decreases in any of the nine tobacco use behaviors, intentions, attitudes and knowledge.;The findings of this study reflect that implementation is occurring at a low rate in elementary schools in California, as compared to their junior and high school counterparts. This research indicates that new implementation measures must be developed and examined among elementary schools. The findings from such studies can be used to develop guidelines and policies for implementation by teachers in elementary schools, with the ultimate goal of increasing effectiveness of tobacco prevention intervention. |
