UAMS researcher launches study on rural youth nicotine prevention

Ashley Clawson, an associate professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, launched a pilot project in September to address nicotine use among rural middle schoolers. The study, titled “Improving School-Parent Coordination to Prevent Nicotine Use Among Rural Youth,” aims to build a prevention tool specifically for communities in Arkansas.

The National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has provided $711,000 to support the effort. The project will run through May 2029. Clawson, a faculty member in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, will recruit sixth-grade students from schools classified as rural by the National Center for Educational Statistics. Participants will be drawn from every region of the state.

Clawson said the study focuses on the specific challenges faced by rural schools, students, and families. She stated, “Our focus is capturing the unique experience of rural schools, rural students, and rural families.” She added that her goal is to empower parents with the tools to prevent their children from using nicotine.

The research team will work directly with schools and families to design an intervention. This process involves creating a school-based prevention program alongside a parent-based strategy. Clawson explained, “The goal is to meet school needs and to meet family needs by working with them through a process where they’re directly involved with creating an intervention.”

Previous research indicates that many school professionals lack the resources to implement evidence-based prevention plans. Data also shows that parents, including those who use nicotine themselves, want their children to avoid tobacco products. Clawson noted that the study will examine past attempts to implement these methods and identify what has worked and what has failed.

The team will ask schools and parents to identify barriers to delivering prevention programs. They will also survey students on the best ways to keep them engaged. This feedback will be used to create strategies that help schools and parents overcome obstacles. Clawson said, “We want to learn what has worked and what are the things that have gotten in the way.”

Clawson is partnering with Stanford University for the project. She will work with Stanford researchers to adapt their existing school-based prevention toolkit. The adaptation will be based on feedback received from Arkansas schools and families. The final intervention will coordinate efforts between the school and the home to prevent rural middle school students from using nicotine.

Clawson said the project aims to reduce the burden of tobacco-caused disease in Arkansas. She stated, “If we can help students get on a path where they are nicotine free, it will help prevent a huge burden that Arkansans have regarding tobacco-caused disease.” The hope is to improve the overall health of these students across their lifespan.