Pittsburgh and Rural Area High School Tobacco Prevention

Tobacco Initiation Prevention for Pittsburgh and Rural Area High School Students

This research project will explore the feasibility and acceptability of a web-based media literacy tobacco prevention program. The project will be conducted with 9th graders in two schools in the Pittsburgh area.

Specific Aim 1: To assess 9th grade students' preferences for delivery of the web-based media literacy tobacco prevention program. Investigators will conduct focus groups with 9th grade students in each high school. Students will be shown clips from the program and asked to provide feedback about the preferred frequency and setting for the program.

Specific Aim 2: Investigators will conduct a pilot trial of the intervention via a cluster randomized controlled trial. The control group will receive their usual health education curriculum. The intervention group will receive their usual health education curriculum with the addition of the intervention. All students will be asked to complete a pre-test, a post-test, and two follow-up surveys (approximately 4 and 12 months post-intervention). Feasibility endpoints will include overall program completion, recruitment/attendance rates, and retention rates. Acceptability outcomes will assess student perceptions toward the intervention. A sub-aim will be to conduct focus groups and interviews with students, teachers, and administrators to assess implementation barriers and facilitators.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 9th grade student
• enrolled at participating Pittsburgh-area school

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to read the surveys