Research project aims to strengthen smoke-free school hours
Although smoke-free school hours have been mandated by law, many students at Danish preparatory basic education and vocational schools continue to use nicotine and tobacco products during school hours. Now, researchers from the National Institute of Public Health are starting a new study to investigate how to promote the uptake of the policy into routine practice.
Since July 2021, it has been a legal requirement to have smoke-free school hours. Nevertheless, many students at preparatory basic education and vocational schools continue to use tobacco and nicotine products. Data from 2022 shows that about 64 percent of students who smoke or use e-cigarettes still do so during school hours. Among students who use smoke-free nicotine products, the figure is as high as 78 percent.
"The data suggests that smoke-free school hours are either not being enforced effectively or are facing too many barriers. That is why we are now investigating how we can improve and strengthen the implementation of smoke-free school hours," says senior researcher Susan Andersen from the National Institute of Public Health.
TrygFonden has donated four million Danish kroner to the project.
Susan Andersen and her colleagues will examine how smoke-free school hours are being implemented at the schools and why there seems to be resistance.
"Previous studies indicate that possible barriers may come from the students, who want to decide for themselves, or from staff members believing that enforcement interferes with their relations to the students. It is therefore crucial for us to understand what the actual barriers are, but also what is working well at the schools and facilitating the smoke-free school hours policy," explains Susan Andersen.
Fieldwork at schools
Several preparatory basic education and vocational schools across Denmark will receive a questionnaire to gain insights into how and to which extent smoke-free school hours is implemented. Additionally, the researchers will visit selected schools to closely observe daily life and hold workshops with both school staff.
"Fieldwork at the schools provides us with a unique opportunity to understand the challenges associated with implementing smoke-free school hours. At the same time, one of the key goals of the workshops we hold is to develop implementation strategies in collaboration with the schools and address the challenges they are experiencing," says Susan Andersen.
The project is expected to start in October 2024.
Contact: Senior Researcher Susan Andersen, Email: suan@sdu.dk, Phone: +45 6550 7816, National Institute of Public Health, SDU