The effectiveness of online smoking prevention program for adolescents in South Korea: a comparative analysis with traditional education.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and engagement of an interactive simulation-based online smoking prevention program compared to a traditional offline program for Korean adolescents. Methods: A total of 1,008 adolescents from elementary, middle, high, and alternative schools in Chungcheongnam-do Province, South Korea participated in this study from October 1 to 31, 2021. The offline program consisted of 2-hour lectures by teachers, whereas the online program included six interactive peer-oriented video modules. The evaluation compared and analyzed the survey results measuring changes in smoking-related knowledge and attitudes before and after each program, as well as the level of interest in and satisfaction with education. Results: When comparing the pre- and post-intervention scores between the two groups, no statistically significant differences were found except for a decreased belief that smoking helps relieve stress (F=12.125, P=0.001). However, withingroup comparisons revealed that the online smoking prevention program led to positive changes in most smokingrelated knowledge and attitude items, including reduced beliefs about smoking as a stress reliever (P<0.001) and lower misconceptions about the harm of e-cigarettes (P<0.001). In terms of engagement and satisfaction, the online program received significantly higher scores for interest (P<0.001), knowledge improvement (P<0.001), and program recommendations (P=0.021). Conclusion: The online smoking prevention program was as effective as the traditional offline approach in enhancing smoking-related knowledge and attitudes. Moreover, its superior engagement and time efficiency highlight its strong potential as an effective alternative or complementary strategy to conventional school-based programs.