Effect of Two Educational Methods Software and Educational Booklet on Knowledge, Attitude and Performance of Adolescent Girls towards Puberty Hygiene: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Adolescence is a critical period and more than ever need to training. Due to tendency of adolescents for using of new computer –based education methods today, this study aims to determine the effect of two educational methods including software and educational booklet on knowledge, attitude and performance of adolescent girls regarding puberty hygiene. Methods: This trial was carried out on 621 adolescent girls who had experienced menarche and were studying in secondary schools of in Tabriz -2013. Twenty one schools that randomly were selected based on the students’ pretest performance score were divided into seven categories, each category included three schools. The each of schools in each category were randomly assigned into groups of software, booklet and no intervention. Educations included physical hygiene, menstruation, nutrition, exercise and psychology. Knowledge, attitude and performance were measured with using self -administered questionnaires in two stages (before and one month after intervention). The data were analyzed by using one –way ANOVA, Pearson correlation test, Independent t –test, Chi –square and general linear model with control baseline values and cluster effect. Results: There was no difference between two groups of intervention and control in terms of demographic characteristics before intervention. Knowledge score after intervention in the software group was significantly higher compared to booklet {adjusted difference 13.8 (95% CI: 10.7 to 16.8)} and no intervention groups {16.5(13.6 to 19.4)}. Post –intervention attitude score showed a low significantly increase in booklet group compared to software group {-2.9(-5.8 to -0.1)} but there was no significant difference between software group with control group {0.9(-1.9 to 3.7)}. There was no significant difference in terms of performance score between software group with booklet {-0.1(-3.7 to 1.7)} and no intervention groups {1.6(-0.1 to 4.1)}. Conclusion: Findings of this study show that software can be used for promoting knowledge of adolescent girls about puberty hygiene. However, according to study limitations and lack of effect of software on adolescents’ attitude and performance and low effect of booklet on promoting their attitude score, further studies is recommended in this regard.