Tobacco use represents a critical challenge to public health and has been identified as tobacco epidemic, which has numerous consequences, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Tobacco use kills almost six million people per year (WHO). There is a publication from the WHO, Global Report entitled Mortality Attributable to Tobacco, which was published in 2012 and it shows that the problem exists worldwide in both gender (female and male).
My research idea is tobacco smoking among young age. I found it very interesting topic, since I read that smoking in the age of 13-15 is increasing according to Global Youth Tobacco Surrey (1998- 2008) (WHO).
While, I am concerned to build up a picture of tobacco smoking in young age is easy to decide who I am going to interview, young people from many different neighborhoods (from upper class and low- income families) both boys and girls. I will find my interviewees from schools or societies. I, also, think is a good idea to use snowball as a method of finding interviewees because I want to see if the peer pressure exists. I do not know if I am right, so you can tell me your opinion.
The next step to my research will be to choose a cozy and friendly place, maybe a café, where the adolescents can feel relaxed and free to discuss with me without stress.
In order to investigate the social basis of smoking in young age, I have to find questions which will approach the topic correctly, such as when they start smoking, the causes, peer pressure, if their parents are smokers, knowledge about the consequences of smoking, participation of prevention programs. My questions will be simple and here are some of my questions:
- In what age do you start smoking?
- What was the reason you start smoking?
- How was your mood at that time?
- Have you experienced peer pressure/ bullying associated with smoking to school?
- Are your parents smokers?
- Was the cigarette accessible to you?
- How was your family life at that time?
- Do you know the consequences of smoking?
- Have you ever participated to a school- based prevention program about smoking?