Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41221236›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in public health2025

School-based smoking prevention strategies for adolescents in a conservative LMIC context: a qualitative study from Egypt.

Maryam Ba-Break, Bridgette M Bewick, Helen Elsey, Reinhard Huss, Tim Ensor, Mohamed Saleh, Sean Donnelly, Doaa Mohamed Osman

Abstract read
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Article in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Maryam Ba-BreakSchool of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Bridgette M BewickSchool of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Helen ElseyDepartment of Health Sciences, University of York, York, United Kingdom.
Reinhard HussUniversal Basic Income Leeds Lab, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Tim EnsorSchool of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Mohamed SalehSchool of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Sean DonnellyTameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Doaa Mohamed OsmanPublic Health and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: Adolescent smoking is a critical form of psychoactive substance misuse, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Egypt, where youth tobacco use remains a public health concern. This study explored current and potential school-based smoking prevention interventions in a conservative low- and middle-income country context, to identify strategies which enhance adolescents' capability, opportunity, and motivation to avoid smoking initiation. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in three public preparatory schools (boys', girls', and mixed gender) in Asyut, Upper Egypt. Data was collected through 40 semi-structured interviews with school staff, 16 focus group discussions with 76 pupils (aged 12-13), and analysis of 172 school documents. Creative tools including picture-elicitation and story-making were used with pupils. Data was analysed using the framework approach, guided by the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour model. Results: Seven meta-themes were identified. Key strategies included educating pupils on the broad consequences of smoking, including health, appearance, fitness, finances, relationships, addiction, religious values, and equipping them with refusal and coping skills. Interventions should promote smoke-free school and home environments, model non-smoking behaviour, and leverage peer influence. Motivational strategies such as storytelling, real-life examples, reward schemes, and accessible extracurricular alternatives were also emphasised. Barriers included limited resources, cultural taboos, and misinformation around e-cigarettes. Conclusion: School-based smoking prevention interventions in low- and middle-income country settings must be proactive rather than reactive, multi-dimensional and culturally appropriate. Applying the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour model can help schools design integrated interventions that build psychological capability, reshape opportunities, and strengthen both reflective and automatic motivation in early adolescence. The findings have direct implications for public health practice, school policy, and substance misuse prevention programming in resource-constrained and socially conservative settings.

Indexed as

Adolescent BehaviorSchool Health ServicesSmoking PreventionAdolescentChildDeveloping CountriesEgyptFemaleFocus GroupsHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMotivationQualitative ResearchSchoolsadolescentbehaviour changeCOM-B modelEgyptpreventionschool-based interventionsmokingtobacco control

Identifiers

PMID41221236
PMCPMC12597903

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.