A Brief Report on School Pupils’ Perception Regarding Anti-smoking Messages | Chapter 08 | Emerging Trends in Disease and Health Research Vol. 2

 The impact of anti-smoking messages on kids is discussed here (ASM). In 2016, the first study (SI) was undertaken in a private school. The study enlisted the participation of 58 ninth- and tenth-graders of both genders. In 2022, during the COVID outbreak in Georgia, the second study (SII) was done in the same private school. The study enlisted the participation of 61 ninth- and tenth-graders of both genders. Participants in both SI and SII received typed anti-smoking messages (ASM) such as the following. 1. Smoking alters the colour of teeth, 2. creates poor breath, 3. causes skin to become spotted, and 4. promotes lung cancer. 5. Smoking promotes sexual impotency, as evidenced by stories of smokers who died as a result of their habits. ASM were accompanied by illustrations that were pertinent to the topic. Participants were asked to assess whether ASM is effective in helping people quit smoking and to rate each type of ASM. Score 1 meant "not at all persuasive," while score 5 meant "very compelling." School Biology textbooks for ninth and tenth graders were examined for anti-smoking information. In the SI, ASM 1, 2, and 3 had much higher scores than ASM 4, 5, and 6. The findings can be attributed to teenagers' particular interest with their appearance. In the SII, there was no significant difference in results for ASM 1,2,3,4 and 6. Presumably, living in a stressful environment makes schoolchildren more sensitive to ASM, especially when it comes to the danger of smoking causing life-threatening diseases and death. The detrimental effects of smoking on body organs were identified in school biology textbooks, along with pertinent inscriptions. One textbook told the storey of a great actor who died from smoking. There was just one textbook that discussed the effects of smoking on one's appearance. We advocate emphasising the detrimental impact of smoking on children's looks in health educational information contained in school textbooks to improve anti-smoking propaganda directed at schoolchildren.

Author(S) Details

Tamar Taliashvili
Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia.

Malkhaz Makashvili
Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia and Guivi Zaldastanishvili American Academy, Tbilisi, Georgia.

Maia Khadouri
Guivi Zaldastanishvili American Academy, Tbilisi, Georgia.

Teona Gubianuri
Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia.

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