Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Abstract OBJECTIVE: There is increasing evidence for declining the onset age of drug abuse worldwide. This
study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of four educational methods including lecture,
presentation of poster and leaflet, presentation of video clip, and group/class discussion for life skills
training and changing in knowledge and attitude of adolescents toward drug abuse.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a pretest–posttest design, a sample of 897 girl and boy high
school students from the first grade (14–15 years old) were involved in this cross‑sectional study
conducted in Isfahan, Iran. After collection of pretest questionnaires, each educational method was
implemented separately for one class in one session (3 h) in each high school, and evaluation was
carried out immediately after intervention through posttest questionnaires by the same students.
RESULTS: According to paired t‑test, the video clip‑ and lecture‑based methods were significantly
efficient in changing the attitudes toward drug abuse in boy and girl students, respectively. Analysis
of covariance showed significant differences between girls and boys in pretest–posttest attitude
scores using group discussion‑based and video clip‑based methods.
CONCLUSION: Life skills training program through lecture‑based and video clip‑based educational
methods was considerably effective in changing the high school students’ attitude toward drug abuse
and addiction.

Abstract Background: A school-based poisoning prevention program for young school children was
implemented and evaluated in Isfahan city by Poison Control Center (PCC) of Food and
Drug Deputy in 2010. Objectives: The aim of the program was to evaluate the effectiveness
of education on children’s knowledge on poisoning and its consequence and also on their
attitude in case of exposure to poisonous or hazardous substances and poisoned patient.
Materials and Methods: In a pretest-posttest design, samples of 520 students from the fifth
grade (10-11 years old), from twenty randomly selected girls’ and boys’ primary schools
were involved in the study. These children were from two different geographical locations
with different socio-economical levels (high-income and middle-income). After collection
of pretest questionnaires, 6 poisoning education sessions were implemented in selected
schools by trained teachers in a week. Results: Following the education program, knowledge
on various issues of poisoning significantly improved as did attitude to the poisonous
agents and poisoned patients. In girl students, strong increase was found in knowledge
on poisoning with carbon monoxide and heating devices from pretest to posttest. While in
boy students, the strongest increase was in item of knowledge on poisoning prevention.
Children living in the regions with middle-income conditions had more base-line knowledge
and attitudinal aspect when compared with children with high-income condition. Comparison
of all students showed significant differences (P < 0.001) on knowledge scores on various
issues of poisoning before and after education. Conclusion: The school-based educational
programs provide a good opportunity to poison information centers in preventing poisoning.