Compliance with the school smoking ban: A cross-sectional study from Italy: doi: 10.7417/CT.2021.2301

BACKGROUND: In 2015, 37% of Italian adolescents reported to have smoked in the past month. The study aimed to evaluate smoking behaviour on the school premises and to study the influence of the school environment on student smoking. METHODS: Around 900 junior high-school students, aged 11-13 years old completed an online survey in November 2016 and May 2017. Descriptive statistics, univariate analyses and binary logistic regression were performed to analyse data.  RESULTS: Between 40 – 50% of students indicated that students and staff smoke on the school premises. Students who witnessed students (OR: 3.48 (2.20 – 5.50)) and school employees (OR: 3.17 (1.97 – 5.10)) smoking were more likely to be a smoker. CONCLUSION: Although laws making it illegal to smoke on the school ground are in place, in Italy, its enforcement is sloppy. To tackle adolescent smoking effectively, policymakers are advised to enforce smoking restrictions and to verify these are respected.