RESUMO
Tobacco smoking is the most prevalent preventable cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Tobacco dependence is a paediatric disease: the majority of smokers light their first cigarette before they reach the age of 18. The paper evaluates anonymous questionnaires collected during 55 seminars at basic schools in Prague during 2006, where 776 students of the 3rd-9th classes took part. Lectors were specially trained medical students (4th and higher year of study) from three Medical Faculties in Prague, who additionally had experiences working as consultants of the Czech Quitline. The given structure of smoking prevention seminars is described. Almost half of children in the age of 8-15 years had some experience with smoking: 45.6% of girls (170/372) and a 47.9% of boys (189/394). Mean age of the first cigarette was 9.95 (SD 3.6) years. Those alarming data should lead to adoption of effective tobacco control measures in the society.
