Researchers said school-based schemes where pupils learned about the short-term health consequences of smoking, combined with training on resistance to pro-smoking media messages, were "working well" and should continue.
However, evidence suggested that mass media campaigns, when combined with school-based programmes, were more effective than school-based programmes alone.
Researchers also claimed the impact of programmes could be quadrupled if delivered early during the transition from elementary to middle grade, if peer leaders played a substantial role in delivering the programme.
An estimated 10 per cent of children aged 11 to 15 were regular smokers in 2002, according to government statistics.
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