Significance: The purpose of the study was to determine if a consistent, clear "no tobacco use" message in the curriculum from grades K-6 prevents or postpones tobacco use or the intent to use tobacco. The Tobacco-Less Curriculum Supplement Project (TLCS) was initiated in 1998 to study the impact of a comprehensive tobacco prevention message being taught consistently and progressively in grades K-6. The Wisconsin Affiliate of the American Cancer Society funded the study.
Design: After review of elementary tobacco prevention curricular materials, five lesson modules were developed for each grade level using the lessons that were supported by tobacco prevention and effective education research findings. The curriculum was piloted in 1999, with teacher interviews providing feedback on curriculum, student response, and ease of implementation and change recommendations. In 2000-2001, after teacher training sessions in each participating building, twenty Wisconsin elementary schools implemented the curriculum. All curricular materials and support resources were provided to each participating teacher.
Results: The subjects were 4976 K-6 students of evenly mixed gender (50.7% females). The majority of subjects had not tried cigarette smoking (K=89.5%; 1st=90.8%; 2nd=91.8%; 3rd=92.7%; 4th 88.7%; 5th=85.9%; 6th=83.0%). The majority of students did not plan to smoke when they were older (K=85.3%; 1st=92.0%; 2nd=94.2%; 3rd=96.7%; 4th=97.7%; 5th=97.0%; 96.6%). The majority of subjects (K=51.8%; 1st=53.3%; 2nd=57.1%; 3rd=55.0%; 4th=66.4%; 5th=55.8%; 6th=56.7%) responded "yes" to the question: "Does any one in the family you live with smoke?" Analysis of post-test data, collected in spring of 2000 and 2001, to determine program effectiveness is ongoing.