Factors Associated with the Adoption of Tobacco Cessation Programmes in Schools

Background: Although there are now a number of evidence-based tobacco use cessation programs available for dissemination, almost all adolescent tobacco cessation research comprises efficacy and effectiveness studies. As a result, there is a need for more research to guide the scaling up of these programs. Methods: The current study utilized data from a cross-sectional sample of 205 administrators and tobacco prevention program coordinators in school districts and county offices of education throughout California, to explore factors that affect the adoption of tobacco cessation programs in schools. Results: We found that several characteristics of the community, organization and individual respondent were associated with the adoption of evidence-based tobacco cessation programs in schools, including identifying tobacco use prevention as a community priority, having school-level SUP coordinators, greater coordinator effort devoted to tobacco use prevention, having a program champion, and currently receiving TUPE funds (all ps < .05). Conclusions: Although the availability of dedicated tobacco education funds is an important factor in schools adopting tobacco cessation programs with proven effectiveness, our results suggest that strengthening education agencies' capacity to implement prevention programming, through dedicated resources and personnel, has the potential to lead to increased adoption of tobacco cessation programs.