Abstract
Objective:To study the effectiveness of the smoking prevention module towards knowledge on smoking and its harmful effects and smoking refusal skills among secondary school students in Kelantan, Malaysia. Methods:A quasi experimental interventional study involving 166 non-smokers adolescents, aged 13 to 14 years old were carried out in two schools located in two different suburbs. Both schools had equal number of participants. One school was given the smoking prevention module for intervention while the control school only received the module after the study had been completed. The knowledge on smoking and its harmful effects and smoking refusal skill score were assessed using a set of validated Malay questionnaires at baseline, two weeks and eight weeks after the intervention. Repeated measure ANCOVA was used to analyse the mean score difference of both groups at baseline and after intervention. Result:Baseline analysis shows no significant difference in knowledge score between the study groups (p = 0.713) while post intervention, it shows significant inclination of knowledge score in intervention group and the difference was significant after controlling the gender [F(df) = 15.96(1.5), p <0.001]. The mean baseline for refusal skills score in the control and intervention groups were 30.89(6.164) and 28.02(6.241) respectively (p= 0.003). Post intervention, there is a significant difference in the crude mean and the estimated marginal means for smoking refusal skills score between the two groups after controlling for sex [F(df) = 5.66(1.8), p = 0.005]. Conclusion:This smoking prevention module increased the level of knowledge on smoking and its harmful effects and smoking refusal skill among the secondary school students. Thus, it is advocated to be used as one of the standard modules to improve the current method of teaching in delivering knowledge related to harmful effects of smoking and smoking refusal skill to the adolescents in Malaysia.
Highlights
Smoking or tobacco use is one of the preventable causes of mortality in Malaysia
Result: Baseline analysis shows no significant difference in knowledge score between the study groups (p = 0.713) while post intervention, it shows significant inclination of knowledge score in intervention group and the difference was significant after controlling the gender [F(df) = 15.96(1.5), p
This smoking prevention module increased the level of knowledge on smoking and its harmful effects and smoking refusal skill among the secondary school students
Summary
Smoking or tobacco use is one of the preventable causes of mortality in Malaysia. It is known that smoking is a risk factor for a wide range of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease (Thyrian et al, 2009). Multiple initiatives had been taken to ensure that Malaysia is able to achieve the aforementioned target These initiatives are crucial to avert smoking initiation at an early age as 80% of adult smokers admitted that they had started smoking since adolescence, while those who had not smoked during schooling years are less likely to commence smoking during adulthood (Hock et al, 2013). Norlina Anuar et al the prevention programmes, their self-interest acts as a determinant whether these adolescents will engage in any smoking activities or otherwise. It is quite difficult for the adolescents, especially those with low self-esteem, to steer clear from smoking when it is recognised as socially enviable behaviour (Simons-Morton et al, 1999). In this study we adapted an existing module used in national school and improved it based on local and international experience, keeping the modification suited to the local adolescents
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