Background
: According to recent studies of smoking rates among adolescents, the age at which young people begin to smoke is decreasing. The present study reports the results of a survey, conducted by the Korean National Tuberculosis Association (KNTA) in 2002, of the smoking status of Korean middle school students.

Methods : From April to November 2002, the KNTA surveyed the present smoking status of middle school students (total 14,296: boys-8,697, girls-5,599) according to sex and grade in 125 schools in 12 provinces during a smoking cessation education program.

Results : The survey showed that 18.4% of the males (7th grade-15.8%, 8th grade-17.6%, 9th grade-21.8%) and 8.3% of the females (7th grade-6.2%, 8th grade-9.3%, 9th grade-9.5%) had smoking experience. Approximately 2.5% of the males (7th grade-1.2%, 8th grade-1.8%, 9th grade-4.6%) and 1.0% of the females (7th grade- 0.3%, 8th grade-1.2%, 9th grade-1.5%) smoked regularly. The boys' smoking rate was higher than that of the girls in all grades. Smoking rates varied among the provinces, with Chungbuk having the highest rate (2.8%) and Jeonbuk having the lowest (0.9%). The time when most smokers began to smoke was in 6th grade of elementary school for the boys (15.9%) and 7th grade of middle school for the girls (28.6%). Approximately 69.4% of smokers answered that "curiosity" was the most important motivational factor. Statistical analysis indicated that smoking rates were positively correlated with alcohol use and height of students, but were negatively correlated with parents' level of education. At the end of the smoking cessation education program, the number of smokers had reduced for the boys (from 2.6% to 2.2%), but had increased for the girls (from 1.8% to 2.0%). The pre- program survey on the trans-theoretical stage of smoking cessation revealed that 34.2% fell into a pre- contemplation stage, 34.2% into a contemplation stage, and 31.6% into a preparation stage. The post-education survey showed remarkable changes: 24.0% were in the pre-contemplations stage, 40.0% in the contemplation stage, and 36.0% were in the preparation stage.

Conclusion : This study reports the results of a survey, conducted by the KNTA in 2002, concerning the national smoking status of middle school students, relating factors, and levels of motivation for quitting smoking. The smoking cessation education program run by the KNTA had an impact on the motivational stage of smoking cessation.

Background
: In spite of worldwide recognition of the hazardous effects of smoking, the adolescent smoking rate in Korea continues to increase. This study was performed to determine the smoking statistics for the Chonan area, and to evaluate the effectiveness of mass smoking cessation education based on Prochaska's trans-theoretical model in adolescents.

Methods : To obtain the smoking statistics, an on-site questionnaire survey was performed on 7,373 students from 5 middle and 6 high schools in the Chonan area from May to July, 2001. A logistic regression analysis was done on the variables in order to determine the factors related to smoking. Immediately after completing smoking cessation education, the second questionnaire, which included questions on the effectiveness and satisfaction of the education, was conducted in one high school.

Results : The smoking rates were 18.0% in males, 8.8% in females; 4.3% in middle school students, and 21.1% in high school students. The smoking rate in vocational high schools (30.7%) was higher than in general high schools (11.9%)(P＜0.001). Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that the smoking rate increased in males (OR= 2.28), father's smoking status (OR=1.55), mother's smoking status (OR=2.98), and sibling's smoking status (OR=3.57). Approximately 47% of smokers answered that "curiosity" was their most important motivational factor; 29.1% of smokers started smoking in second grade of middle school. The pre-education survey on the trans-theoretical stage of smoking cessation revealed that 38.1% fell into pre-contemplation stage, 36.8% into contemplation stage, and 25.1% into preparation stage. The post-education survey showed remarkable change to 20.8% of pre-contemplations stage, 47.6% of contemplation stage, and 31.6% of preparation stage.

Conclusion : The mass smoking cessation education run by doctors did have an impact on the motivational stage of smoking cessation. Therefore, to improve adolescents' health, an active non-smoking campaign and education should be continued in various ways.