Abstract

Session presented on: Tuesday, July 23, 2013:

Purpose: to evaluate the extent to which participation in a peer-led educational program about substance abuse produces changes in knowledge and attitudes among Lebanese/Armenian adolescents.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study. A convenient sample of 134 high school students, from two Armenian high schools in Beirut were recruited. Design: Pretest-posttest; students completed a questionnaire before and one week after an educational program implemented by two peer-educators, who had participated in a 'training-trainees' project about prevention of substance abuse. The educational program provided students with knowledge and skills to resist social influences to engage in substance abuse. A variety of teaching-learning tools were used. SPSS version 16 was used. Overall knowledge and attitude scores were created, as well as knowledge sub-scores and attitude scales for pro-smoking, pro-drinking, pro-marijuana, and pro-hard drugs. Pretest-posttest results were compared using paired t-test to evaluate the impact of the program.

Results: Knowledge about drugs improved significantly (p=0.005) between the pre-post test. Overall mean positive attitude towards tobacco and drugs decreased significantly (p=0.010). Pro-attitude towards smoking, alcohol drinking and hard drugs decreased significantly in the post test (p=0.004). Similarly, the drug refusal skills improved significantly (p=0.028).

Conclusion: Continue peer-led preventive programs focusing on building confidence, interpersonal competence and drug refusal skills.

Authors

Mary Arevian

Author Details

Mary Arevian, MPH, RN, BSN

Sigma Membership

Lambda Pi at-Large

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Quasi-Experimental Study, Other

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Peer-Led Education, Adolescents, Substance Abuse Prevention

Conference Name

24th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Prague, Czech Republic

Conference Year

2013

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Impact of a peer-led educational program on knowledge and attitudes about prevention of substance abuse among Lebanese/Armenian adolescents

Prague, Czech Republic

Session presented on: Tuesday, July 23, 2013:

Purpose: to evaluate the extent to which participation in a peer-led educational program about substance abuse produces changes in knowledge and attitudes among Lebanese/Armenian adolescents.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study. A convenient sample of 134 high school students, from two Armenian high schools in Beirut were recruited. Design: Pretest-posttest; students completed a questionnaire before and one week after an educational program implemented by two peer-educators, who had participated in a 'training-trainees' project about prevention of substance abuse. The educational program provided students with knowledge and skills to resist social influences to engage in substance abuse. A variety of teaching-learning tools were used. SPSS version 16 was used. Overall knowledge and attitude scores were created, as well as knowledge sub-scores and attitude scales for pro-smoking, pro-drinking, pro-marijuana, and pro-hard drugs. Pretest-posttest results were compared using paired t-test to evaluate the impact of the program.

Results: Knowledge about drugs improved significantly (p=0.005) between the pre-post test. Overall mean positive attitude towards tobacco and drugs decreased significantly (p=0.010). Pro-attitude towards smoking, alcohol drinking and hard drugs decreased significantly in the post test (p=0.004). Similarly, the drug refusal skills improved significantly (p=0.028).

Conclusion: Continue peer-led preventive programs focusing on building confidence, interpersonal competence and drug refusal skills.