Study of the Effects of Physician Advice on Preteens

Overview

Research has shown that a preteen’s beliefs about smoking affect his or her likelihood of becoming a regular smoker later in life. Many factors influence the preteen’s beliefs including messages heard in school and on the television and from parents, peers, and physicians. In this study, the researchers examine whether or not preteens and their parents recall hearing smoking prevention messages from the preteen’s doctor. The researchers also studied if doctor’s message had any effect on whether or not the preteen was susceptible to trying smoking in the future.

Design

As part of a larger study called “Steering Clear” that provided preteens (ages 10-12 years) with smoking prevention materials, the researchers had doctors at Kaiser Permanente Northwest Division (Portland, OR) and Group Health Cooperative (Seattle, WA) address smoking with the preteens during their appointments.

The doctors did the following during the appointment with the preteen and his/her parent:

• Reviewed the “Steering Clear” smoking prevention materials
• Reinforced the importance of not smoking
• Encouraged further use of the “Steering Clear” materials at home

To analyze whether or not the doctor’s message had any effect on a preteen’s chance of trying smoking, the researchers surveyed the preteens and parents at the beginning of the study and at 6, 12, and 20 months later. The researchers surveyed 4,026 families: 504 families were surveyed at the 4 time points previously listed; the remaining 3,522 were surveyed at the beginning point and 20 months later.

Findings

When surveyed at 20 months, of the preteens who remember visiting their doctor, less than 25% remember the doctor talking to them about smoking prevention. Moreover, only 15% of preteens in the group who were surveyed at four different time points recalled their doctor discussing the “Steering Clear” program and smoking prevention. The parents’ recall rate of the doctors discussing smoking prevention and “Steering Clear” was also low.

It is possible the low recall rates are due to preteens’ and parents’ forgetfulness and not because the doctors failed to discuss smoking prevention and “Steering Clear.” However, the preteens and parents did have much higher rates of remembering when the doctor talked about nutrition and weight.

The researchers also found that preteens were more likely to remember hearing smoking prevention messages from others sources, as shown below:

• 68% of preteens remember hearing smoking prevention messages at school
• 53% of preteens remember hearing smoking prevention messages at home
• 71% of preteens remember hearing smoking prevention messages from the mass media (television, radio, etc)

Recall rates of doctors discussing smoking use and prevention were much lower than their recall rates of similar discussions occurring at school, home, or in the mass media.

Conclusion

Even though having physicians discuss smoking with preteen patients appears to be a low-cost, easily applied smoking prevention method, this study shows that the messages are not likely to be delivered at a high enough rate or quality to cause preteens and parents to remember them. The doctors’ smoking prevention messages may not be remembered at high rates because they a.) did not occur or b.) were simply forgotten by the preteens and parents over time.

On the other hand, messages on smoking prevention and cessation that are delivered at school, home, and in the media are remembered much more often by preteens and may be better mediums for smoking prevention education.

• Press Room
  • Press Release Archive
  • Print Article Archive
  • Web Article Archive
• Research Library
• CBS Services
• Our Clients
• Leadership Team
• Employment
  • Job Postings