How Do Parents Educate Their Children and Teens About Smoking?

To determine the perceptions and behaviors of parents regarding teen smoking, and to assess whether these differed by race and parental smoking status, Clark et al employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. First, 5 focus groups of self-identified African-American current regular smokers (N=32) and 7 focus groups of self-identified white current regular smokers (N=38) who were parents of children and teens provided information about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices about smoking. Then, using this information, a questionnaire was developed to obtain quantitative information on parents’ perceptions and behaviors. The survey was administered by telephone to parents in a Midwestern urban area who had previously been contacted regarding a study evaluating their teens’ use of tobacco; of the 362 parents contacted, 311 responded (86% participation rate).

Both focus group data and …