Effect of the living skill program on smoking prevention among lower secondary school students: Case study from a school in Ubon Ratchathani province

Abstract

Introduction: This quasi-experimental study was aimed to explore the effectiveness of the living skill program to prevent smoking in the secondary school. Methods: The samples were 70 students from one of secondary school in Ubon Ratchathani. The samples were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups for 35 each. The data were collected from November 2015 to March 2016. This study was conducted by using self-administered questionnaires. The living skill program together with participatory learning was also utilized in the study group in order to prevent smoking. The program consisted of lecture, group discussion, games, demonstration and practices, which were conducted once a week for 6 continuous weeks. The data were obtained 1 week before and 1 week after the program including a 3-month follows up. Descriptive and inferential statistics including Independent t-test and Two-way repeated measure ANOVA were used to analyze the data. Results: The results revealed that the average scores of living skill in the experimental group for selfawareness, self-esteem and social responsibility, decision making and problem solving, communication and interpersonal relationship, emotional and stress management were significantly higher than those before enrolling into the program. These scores were also significantly higher than the comparison group (p-value< 0.001). Additionally, the average score of knowledge about smoking in experimental group was significantly higher than those before the study and higher than those in the control group (p-value< 0.001). Conclusion: The results show that the effect of the living skill program on smoking prevention among lower secondary school students could increase smoking knowledge and refusal skills among students. Therefore, the results of the study can be used as baseline data for public health personnel and educational institutes in terms of planning and implementing health promotion programs in secondary schools to sustain the smoking prevention behaviors.