The objectives of this study were to find out positive effect of substance abuse prevention education on the knowledge and attitudes toward substance of a high school students.
174 students(87 experimental group, 87 control group), both male and female, at D High School in K City were sampled for this study from 18th of March 1999 until 28th of April 1999. Documents were complied through questionnaires to the experimental group and control group of 4 classes after visiting to the school to explain the purpose of study to the students and teachers.
The instrument used for this study was a questionnaire asked for knowledge and attitudes toward substance.
The substance abuse prevention education was provided with the subject of the concept of substance, each of physiologic function, addiction example, complication of alcohol, cigarette and inhalants, and methods to ask for help when they have any trouble or difficulties for 45 minutes for two times.
The PC-SAS package programs were used to analyze the data along with χ2-test, t-test, paired t-test and the feedback from students after education were additionally analyzed.
The results of this study were as follows.
1. a significant difference between two groups was not shown in general characteristics and substance-related characteristics.
2. the first hypothesis was accepted. The experimental group showed more change in the substance related knowledge than that of control group(t=3.61, p=0.000).
3. The second hypothesis was accepted. The experimental group showed more change in the substance related attitudes than that of control group(t=2.12, p=0.035)
4. The third hypothesis was accepted. The posttest point of experimental group showed more change in the substance related knowledge than that of the pretest(t=6.83, p=0.0001).
5. The forth hypothesis was accepted. The posttest point of experimental group showed more change in the substance related attitudes than that of the pretest(t=3.63, p=0.0005).
6. The feedback from students after education were analyzed. The students said that they must received some detail substance abuse prevention education, they must have willness not to take any substances, they must aware and convince other students about the harmful effects of substances. In addition, they said that they have received the exact knowledge and information of the substance’s hazard and complication.
The study showed that the substance abuse prevention education was effective in increasing substance-related knowledge and attitudes. Based on the result of this study we can recommended that school-based substance abuse prevention education should be done regularly by school-nurses for induced change of knowledge, attitudes and behavior toward substance.
|