Assessing the Efficacy of a Structured Educational Intervention in Enhancing Awareness of Substance Abuse Prevention: Focus on Alcohol and Tobacco

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding prevention of substance abuse among alcohol and tobacco abusers in selected construction sites at Belagavi district, Karnataka. Methods: The study employs a Quantitative Evaluative Research approach and one group pretest, post-test design. Data will be collected from a sample of 60 participants selected through non-probability purposive sampling. Pre-test knowledge will be evaluated using a structured questionnaire, followed by administering the structured teaching program. Post-test knowledge will be assessed seven days later using the same questionnaire. The methodology ensures systematic data collection and evaluation of the intervention’s impact on participants’ knowledge. Results: The study findings revealed a significant improvement in knowledge scores among alcohol and tobacco abusers regarding prevention of substance abuse following the structured teaching program. In the pre-test, 83.3% had poor knowledge, while 86.66% demonstrated good knowledge in the post-test. Notably, all participants in the “Poor” category showed complete improvement. The mean knowledge score increased from 10.16 (±2.08) in the pre-test to 15.9 (±1.81) in the post-test, with a paired t-test value of 37.54, indicating statistical significance (p<0.05). However, demographic factors like age, sex, education, and occupation did not show a significant association with knowledge scores. Overall, the structured teaching program effectively enhanced knowledge levels among alcohol and tobacco abusers, supporting the prevention of substance abuse in construction sites at Belagavi. Conclusion: The study effectively showed that the Structured Teaching Programme significantly enhanced knowledge about substance abuse prevention among alcohol and tobacco abusers. The results emphasize the potential of structured educational interventions in addressing substance abuse in this population. These findings can inform the development of targeted nursing education, evidence-based practices, community health initiatives, and future research.