Authors’ conclusions
There is some evidence to support the effectiveness of community interventions in reducing the uptake of smoking in young people,
but the evidence is not strong and contains a number of methodological flaws.
P L A I N L A N G U A G E S U M M A R Y
Can community interventions deter young people from starting to smoke?
Some evidence is available to suggest thatmulti-component community interventions are effective in influencing smoking behaviour and
preventing the uptake of smoking in young people. These interventions use co-ordinated, widespread, multi-component programmes
to try and influence young people’s behaviour. Community members are often involved in determining and/or implementing these
programmes.These include education of tobacco retailers about age restrictions, programmes for prevention of smoking-related diseases,
mass media, school and family-based programmes. Changes in intentions to smoke, knowledge, attitudes and perceptions about
smoking did not generally appear to affect the long-term success of the programmes.
Community