Community Intervention - Tools to Help Youth, training seminars, tobacco, drugs, alcohol, anger

TAP and TEG Program Evaluation

The multifaceted evaluation of TAP and TEG shows that these programs work to help teens reduce and stop using tobacco.

Coleman-Wallace Research

Independent research conducted by Dr. Debbie Coleman-Wallace showed positive movement in readiness-to-change, as well as significant increases in self-efficacy, a key variable in predicting success in tobacco cessation. Two articles were published:

October 1999 Journal of School Health, ”Evaluation of Developmentally Appropriate Programs for Adolescent Tobacco Cessation” and
April 2001 Prevention Researcher, “Evaluation of School-Based Adolescent Tobacco Cessation Programs.”

Using rigorous methodology that included pre/post-tests, control groups, saliva samples, and precise statistical analysis, the authors studied 201 TEG and 128 TAP participants. TEG subjects were involuntary participants referred to the program for violations of school codes on tobacco use, while TAP subjects volunteered for the program. Note: The quit rates are based on all participants and those who missed the post-test were treated as non-quitters. At the programs’ end:

12% of TEG participants quit
16% of voluntary TAP participants quit
TEG participants reduced daily tobacco use by 18%
TAP participants reduced daily tobacco use by 24%

Click here to view the abstract published in the October 1999 Journal of School Health.

Community Intervention Annual Survey

Between May 1995 and May 2004 Community Intervention has annually surveyed the more than 5,000 trained TAP and TEG facilitators nationwide.

The 2003-2004 survey showed:

37% of those students who completed TEG reduced their tobacco use
16% of those students who completed TEG quit using tobacco
47% of those students who completed TAP reduced their tobacco use, not including those who quit
40% of those students who completed TAP quit using tobacco

St Luke’s Hospital Survey

Since 1997, respiratory therapists from St. Luke’s Hospital of Maumee, OH, have facilitated TAP and TEG groups for 24 schools in 12 school systems. All students’ use is validated with a CO monitor.

St. Luke's annually evaluates the success of their programs. In 2003-2004, 99 students completed TEG. Of the 99 students, 22% quit using tobacco and 53% reduced their use, not including those who quit. 57 students completed TAP. Of the 57 students, 28.5% quit their tobacco use and 47% reduced their use by at least 50%. 24.5% of the participants showed no change in tobacco use behavior.

Student Workbooks

The student workbooks contain pre- and post-tests that allow the facilitator to measure changes in behavior (tobacco use), attitudes and knowledge. Post-intervention follow up is encouraged and supported.