RESUMEN
Changes in smoking and drinking behaviour in relation to policy and economic variables were investigated among Dutch secondary schoolchildren in two measurements. The response rate was 82% during the second measurement. In bivariate analyses the policy variables 'pressure by tobacco advertising' and 'incorrect knowledge about dangers of tobacco consumption' and the economic variables 'money' and 'free availability from parents' predicted weekly smoking (among all respondents), and 'the experienced anti-smoking campaigns' predicted weekly smoking (among non-smokers during the first measurement). Only the economic variables predicted weekly drinking. A general and a specific theory of different mechanisms were designed to investigate whether these predictors are independent of other influences. We assumed that changes in smoking and drinking behaviour are predicted at three levels: (a) previous behaviour, (b) socio-demographic variables and (c) possible causes and intermediary factors. In multivariate analyses, only the prediction of weekly smoking by 'experienced anti-smoking campaigns' and weekly drinking by economic variables remained significant. The findings are relevant when policy priorities are developed.
Asunto(s)
Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/epidemiología , Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud , Política de Salud , Fumar/epidemiología , Adolescente , Análisis de Varianza , Estudios de Cohortes , Recolección de Datos , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Países Bajos/epidemiología , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Instituciones AcadémicasRESUMEN
Data from the first measurement of a cohort study among secondary schoolchildren allowed us to investigate policy correlates to smoking and drinking behaviour to some extent. Regular smoking is related to anti-smoking campaigns among boys and regular drinking is related to alcohol education at primary school. Regular drinking is also related to economic availability (free availability of alcohol and pocket money). The findings on economic availability and health education are directly policy relevant.
Asunto(s)
Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/epidemiología , Encuestas Epidemiológicas , Fumar/epidemiología , Adolescente , Publicidad/estadística & datos numéricos , Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/economía , Conducta de Elección , Estudios de Cohortes , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Países Bajos/epidemiología , Grupo Paritario , Política Pública , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
Alcohol consumption in The Netherlands tripled between 1960 and 1980. As a result, alcohol-related problems increased sharply. Therefore Dutch government in 1986 agreed upon a coherent alcohol control policy: more education, efficient treatment and new legislation. One of the first initiatives was the Alcohol Education Project. This consists of mass media campaigns, projects, public relations and research. Several campaigns have now been conducted. A survey was carried out into the reach and the effects after one year. The results look promising.