Gruzieva O. Rationale and development of educational activities to prevent smoking

Study object: population health and health care system. Aim: scientific substantiation of a modern system of educational activities in smoking prevention. Methods: a systematic approach, medical and statistical, sociological, peer reviews, content analysis, economic, structural and logical analysis. Theoretical and practical results: This thesis provides a theoretical summary as well as substantiation and development of the modern system of educational activities in smoking prevention. This educational system is aimed at preventing and decreasing of smoking prevalence, reducing the associated health and social consequences and economic losses, creating an effective training system of health professionals and population, as well as ensuring accessibility of high quality information on various problems related to smoking based on existing information and educational needs. Comprehensive teaching resources for education and outreach activities to prevent smoking among different population groups have been developed, such as educational courses "tobacco control" for schoolchildren, university students, doctors, policy makers etc. The novelty is that smoking prevalence among students of higher medical institutions, adolescents, primary care doctors was assessed on the basis of modern large-scale comprehensive study. Doctors' prevention activities and assisting in smoking cessation were evaluated, information and educational needs on tobacco control for students, health professionals, adolescents were determined. System of educational activities for smoking prevention, its functional and organizational model and monitoring of its implementation has been scientifically substantiated. Degree of implementation: educational course "Tobacco Control" is given in 9 higher educational institutions, and various elements of educational activities are used in the Kiev city and regional health centers. Field of implementation: medicine.