American Lung Association of Hawaii : Tobacco : Word of Mouth
 Word of Mouth (WOM) Word of Mouth (WOM) is a nationally recognized youth tobacco prevention program developed in 1997 by theAmerican Lung Association of Ohio (ALAO). It was designed in accordance with CDC guidelines for effective prevention programs and is an American Lung Association Best Practice. Pre- and post-tests conducted in the research phase of WOM provide key preliminary findings that legitimize the effectiveness of this program. WOM is currently in its third year of implementation in Hawaii elementary and middle schools. The curriculum is comprised of 4 lessons per grade and implemented in grades 4-8. The curriculum has a strong tobacco education component as well as decision-making, goal-setting and refusal skill lessons. Breakdown of WOM curriculum by grade
The American Lung Association in Hawaii's (ALAH’s) stated overall goal for WOM is to prevent youth from beginning to use tobacco. The outcomes measured using pre- and post-program questionnaires developed by the ALAO are: (a) decision-making skills, (b) goal-setting skills, (c) refusal skills, (d) youth/adolescent disapproval of smoking/attitudes, (e) intention to remain tobacco-free, and (f) health beliefs. Students participating in WOM are tracked throughout the five years of the program and data is collected from pre-and post-tests to evaluate behavior changes.
Please click for: Data analysis file/ Narrative for Data
Students practicing refusal skills during WOM lesson.
Please see example schedule below.
| The curriculum consist of 4-45 minute lessons and is implemented in grades 4-8. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lessons address: |
Tobacco Education |
|
Lessons Include: |
Work sheets |
|
|
Character building |
|
|
Games |
|
|
Decision Making |
|
|
Overheads |
|
|
Refusal Skills |
|
|
Lectures |
|
|
Goal Setting |
|
|
Role playing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| *Facilitators of the program must attend a Word of Mouth Facilitator training course. |
| This training is done by the American Lung Association in Hawaii staff. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Example Schedule of three grade-4 classes |
|
| Week I |
Monday ( May2nd) |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| 8:00-8:45 |
1st period, lesson 4.1 |
|
|
|
|
| 9:00-9:45 |
2nd per. Lesson 4.1 |
|
|
|
|
| 10:00-10:45 |
3rd per. Lesson 4.1 |
|
|
|
|
| Week 2 |
Monday ( May 9th) |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| 8:00-8:45 |
1st period, lesson 4.2 |
|
|
|
|
| 9:00-9:45 |
2nd per. Lesson 4.2 |
|
|
|
|
| 10:00-10:45 |
3rd per. Lesson 4.2 |
|
|
|
|
| Week 3 |
Monday ( May 16th) |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| 8:00-8:45 |
1st period, lesson 4.3 |
|
|
|
|
| 9:00-9:45 |
2nd per. Lesson 4.3 |
|
|
|
|
| 10:00-10:45 |
3rd per. Lesson 4.3 |
|
|
|
|
| Week 4 |
Monday ( May 23rd) |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| 8:00-8:45 |
1st period, lesson 4.4 |
|
|
|
|
| 9:00-9:45 |
2nd per. Lesson 4.4 |
|
|
|
|
| 10:00-10:45 |
3rd per. Lesson 4.4 |
|
|
|
|
Schools interested in incorporating Word of Mouth into their schedules should contact the American Lung Association in Hawaii. Trained volunteer facilitators are available to come to schools to implement the program. It is also an option to have your school's teachers trained as WOM facilitators.
|
