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Learning Objective 1: Appreciate the value of peer-led educational program on knowledge and attitude about substance abuse among adolescents
Learning Objective 2: Utilize the methods of this study in studying substance abuse problems among adolescents in their own communities.
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.
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