Background: Smoking is a global issue, Iran as one of the youngest contemporary societies, is involved in this dilemma. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of studying the implementation of programs and policies on preventing and controlling smoking in schools in Tabriz in 2017 using school health profiles from the viewpoint of school administrators and health educators.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. The statistical population included all school administrators and health educators in Tabriz in 2017. In the first stage, stratified proportional sampling and in the second stage systematic randomized sampling was applied. The data collection tool was schools health profiles. Relevant questionnaires were filled out by school administrators and health instructors. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 22 using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage).
Results: 34.4% of schools had an approved policy on tobacco prohibition and 65.6% had no approved or coherent policies or programs on prohibition of smoking. The average and standard deviation of schools based on the use of teaching materials related to smoking prevention and control was 36.14 ± 40.57 out of 100. Most activities were related to the training of short-term and long-term health effects of smoking (50%) and the least activities were related to the provision of health services for preventing and quitting smoking (23.3%).
Conclusion: Most schools in Tabriz do not apply any smoking policy. Most schools also do nothing about preventing and controlling smoking outside the schools. Educational materials do not have necessary information in this regard to be taught by teachers. As a result, health managers and policy makers, in collaboration with school administrators and health educators, need to plan and take steps to develop appropriate programs, policies and materials for preventing and controlling smoking.