The University of Nebraska Medical Center has received a three-year,
$165,000 grant from the Heartland Division of the American Cancer Society
for a program that will focus on reducing the number of teen smokers. The
idea evolved from a series of focus groups with high school students.
The society reports that 90 percent of new smokers in the United States
are children and teenagers. Quit attempts for adolescents are equal to
quit attempts for adults. However, teens often attempt to quit cold turkey
without seeking outside assistance.
Kristine McVea, M.D., UNMC assistant professor of family medicine and
principal investigator of the grant, developed a program to teach teens
how to help their friends quit smoking. This year, Dr. McVea is looking
for 65 teen smokers to interview at different stages of quitting. She said
she will use the information to improve the counseling program to better
meet the specific needs of adolescents.
“In the past, research has focused attention on preventing youth from
smoking and encouraging older adults to quit smoking,” Dr. McVea said.
“Not a lot of work has been done to help those teenagers already addicted
to tobacco to quit smoking. This is an opportunity to explore new ways
to help those young adults.”
The program also gives teens information previously only available in
a physician’s office. Teens enrolled in the study would attend two, four-hour
training sessions at which they learn facts about smoking, its harmful
effects and means of quitting. A pilot program was conducted last year
in Lincoln.
The first phase of the program tracked adolescents’ quit attempts. Quit
rates of students who received peer counseling were compared to students
who attempted to quit without peer counseling. Dr. McVea said the pilot
program was successful. “Many of our mentors’ friends attempted to quit.
We are moving in the right direction.”
Dr. McVea will begin recruiting students for the future sessions next
summer or fall. For more information, contact Dr. McVea at 559-8147.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education, outreach and patient care,
UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for
cancer research and treatment and solid organ transplantation. Nearly $32
million in research grants and contracts were awarded to UNMC scientists
during the past fiscal year. In addition, UNMCs educational programs are
responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska
than any other institution.