Abstract

EFFECTS OF MEDIA-BASED EDUCATION ON ADOPTION OF THALASSEMIA PREVENTIVE BEHAVIOR AMONG FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, SARDASHT, KHUZESTAN, IRAN

*Amin Shokravi F., Eisapareh K. and Karami K. B.

Abstract

Introduction: Thalassemia is among the prevalent blood diseases in the world and Iran. It is a congenital and preventable disease. Education is a crucial solution to promote knowledge about Thalassemia and to prevent it among students. The aim of this research is to assess the effect of media-based education on adoption of Thalassemia preventive behavior among the Sardasht (Iran) female high school students in 2013.Method: In this semi-empirical study, 48 female high school students were selected using census method. Data collection instrument was an author-designed questionnaire. The questionnaire's validity was assessed using content validity method (CVI=0.88, CVR=0.89), and its reliability was calculated by internal homogeneous method (Cronbach's alpha = 0.78). It consisted of 30 questions about knowledge, attitude and behavior, and was distributed before and two months after the intervention. Educational intervention was a compact disc (CD) consisted of introducing Thalassemia, its various types, and transmission and prevention methods. During the procedures, the students were reminded in three-week intervals through SMS. The data were analyzed by SPSS20 and appropriate statistical tests. Conclusion: The subjects' mean age was 17± 1.5 years. The findings a significant difference between the mean scores of knowledge before and two months after intervention (P= 0.001) so that the subjects knowledge score increased up to 21%. The same is true for the mean attitude scores before and after intervention (P=0.001) so that the mean score increased up to 7.04%. A meaningful difference was also appeared between the mean scores of practice before and after intervention (P= 0.001) so that the mean score of practice increased up to8.3%.The Mann-Whitney’s test showed a meaningful relation between the students’ study course and their knowledge about the disease (P=0.03).

Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, Multimedia, Self-educational program, Student, Thalassemia.