Grant Details
Grant Number: |
5R29CA068010-04 Interpret this number |
Primary Investigator: |
Garcia, Anne |
Organization: |
University Of Michigan At Ann Arbor |
Project Title: |
Exercise Effect on Smoking Among High Risk Youth |
Fiscal Year: |
1998 |
Abstract
DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that
increased involvement in an exercise program deters smoking initiation,
especially among high risk youth who have not responded to traditional
smoking prevention techniques. In order to obtain the health objective
of reduced smoking initiation, three specific aims are proposed: (a) to
test the effectiveness of an exercise intervention to prevent smoking
initiation, (b) to examine the relative effectiveness of the exercise
intervention for students identified as especially high risk, and (c)
to investigate mechanisms by which exercise exerts its influence in the
prevention of smoking. All subjects in the study will be high risk,
based on their low socioeconomic status. Approximately 3500 students
from three school districts will complete a baseline survey at the end
of elementary school. The school districts were identified according
to four criteria: sufficient size of the district, low socioeconomic
status, ethnic diversity, and proximity to the research center. The
students will be followed into four middle schools per district. In each
case the four schools will be matched, forming two pairs; one member of
each pair will be randomly assigned to the exercise intervention and the
other will be assigned to the no treatment control. These cohorts will
receive fitness testing pre and post intervention and will maintain
exercise logs. The intervention consists of an on-going exercise
program that is comprised of traditional sports, recreational aerobic
activities, and opportunities for lifestyle skill development. It will
be administered three days per week for twenty weeks of each school
year. First, the efficacy of the intervention on preventing smoking
initiation will be evaluated both for the students in general and for
a subset of subjects identified as "high/high risk." Second, using
Jessor and Jessor's Problem Behavior Theory, the effect of various
baseline psychosocial variables on smoking initiation and the interaction
of these characteristics with the exercise intervention will be assessed
to explore the mechanisms by which exercise might yield its effect. To
analyze the data, a hierarchical logistic regression will be employed
with the log odds ratio of smoking status serving as the dependent
variable. Findings in the predicted direction would have implications
for prevention as there would be evidence that this relatively low-cost
intervention, an exercise program, would be useful in reaching a
heretofore difficult-to-reach population and deter smoking initiation.
Publications
None