School-based interventions to prevent smoking

1. School-based interventions to prevent smoking Implementing NICE guidance 2010 NICE public health guidance 23

2. What this presentation covers • Background • Scope • Recommendations • Costs and savings • Discussion • Find out more

3. How can NICE help? • NICE is an independent organisation responsible for setting standards to promote good health and prevent ill health, based on the best evidence of effectiveness and value for money • NICE recommendations can help schools and their partners implement national initiatives to prevent smoking in children and young people • NICE guidance can help schools implement evidence-based activities and interventions to support planning and School Self Evaluation

4. Background • Smoking causes nearly 20% of deaths in England • Children who start smoking before the age of 16 are twice as likely to continue as adults (compared with those who take up the habit later) • The earlier someone starts smoking regularly, the greater their risk of developing life-threatening conditions

5. Scope • Interventions delivered in schools or other educational institutions to prevent the uptake of smoking among children and young people aged under 19

6. Whole-school approaches Develop an organisation-wide, smokefree policy and ensure it is: • part of the wider Healthy Schools/Healthy Further Education strategy • applied to everyone using the premises • widely publicised and easily accessible • supports smoking cessation by providing information on local NHS Stop Smoking Services

7. Adult-led interventions • Integrate information about the effects of tobacco use and smoking into the school curriculum • Deliver interventions to prevent the uptake of smoking as part of PSHE or Healthy Schools activities • Involve children and young people in their design • Include ‘booster’ activities until school leaving age • Encourage parents to get involved

8. Adult-led interventions • Should be entertaining, factual and interactive and tailored to age and ability • Should aim to develop decision-making skills and include strategies to enhance self-esteem and resist the pressure to smoke • Should include accurate information on smoking prevalence and the consequences of tobacco use

9. Peer-led interventions • Consider offering evidence-based peer-led interventions delivered both in and outside the classroom • These interventions should link to relevant PSHE activities • Interventions should help young people consider and, if necessary, challenge peer and family norms on smoking • Peer leaders should be nominated by their peers, trained by experts and get ongoing support

10. Training and development • Train all staff who will be actively involved in smoking prevention activities • Work in partnership to design, deliver, monitor and evaluate smoking prevention training and interventions • Partners could include: national and local education agencies, training agencies, local authorities, the school nursing service, voluntary sector organisations, local health improvement services and universities

11. Coordinated approach • Ensure smoking prevention in schools is part of the local tobacco control strategy • Ensure schools deliver evidence-based smoking prevention interventions • Ensure interventions are integrated into the curriculum, PSHE education and work that contributes to the Healthy Further Education and Healthy Schools Programme

12. Costs and savings • The guidance on school-based interventions to prevent the uptake of smoking is unlikely to result in a significant change in resource use. However, recommendations in the following areas may result in additional costs/savings depending on local circumstances: • Adult-led interventions • Peer-led interventions (secondary schools)

13. Discussion • Are there opportunities to link with existing programmes – for example our work regarding the Healthy Schools enhancement model? • How can we increase the profile of activities to prevent the uptake of smoking? • How can we get young people involved? • Who is best placed to lead this work?

14. Find out more • Visit www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph23 for the: • guidance • quick reference guide • Schools and evidence-based action: NICE recommends • financial planning tool