Burns Pediatric Practice Test

In guiding an adolescent smoker with relapse risk, which strategy aligns with the maintenance stage of change?

go over with the adolescent about the health risks associated with smoking.

recommend avoiding friends who smoke and making new friends.

remind the adolescent about the struggles associated with quitting smoking.

suggest that the teen consider taking up a sport or other physical activity.

In the maintenance stage, the focus is on sustaining the change that has already occurred and solidifying new, healthier routines to prevent relapse. For adolescents who have quit smoking, the best strategy is one that continuously supports that abstinence by replacing smoking with a positive, long-lasting habit.

Suggesting that the teen take up a sport or another physical activity fits this goal well. Regular physical activity provides structure and something constructive to do during times when cravings or urges might arise. It also offers social connections, improves mood and stress management, and helps reframe identity away from being a smoker toward being an active, healthy teen. All of this reinforces the behavior change over time and reduces the likelihood of returning to smoking.

The other options align more with raising awareness or initial motivation (discussing health risks), attempting to alter social networks (which can be impractical and potentially isolating), or emphasizing the difficulty of quitting (which can keep attention on the struggle rather than on sustaining a new habit). In maintenance, the emphasis is on practical, ongoing activities that support long-term abstinence, and physical activity is a strong fit.