Tobacco use among 7th-grade adolescents in a school in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region, Portugal: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To characterize tobacco use, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes related to its use among 7th-grade adolescents in a school in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region, Portugal. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional, exploratory study. The sample included 82 students enrolled in the 7th grade during the 2022/2023 academic year. The variables assessed were socioeconomic characteristics; prevalence of tobacco use; intention to experiment and to quit; exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; knowledge of the harms of tobacco; refusal skills; beliefs; and attitudes. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software. Results: The mean age was 12.8 years; 56.1% of participants were male. Of the total, 11% reported having tried smoking, and 3.6% were smokers. When confronted with an offer of tobacco, 75.6% stated they would refuse. Most participants recognized that tobacco is harmful to the lungs (89%), to overall health (74.4%), and to physical capacity (53.7%). Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for preventive programs targeting adolescents, with a focus on health promotion and increased literacy, with schools serving as a privileged setting for community-based educational and preventive actions.