Effects of 2 educational methods on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of women high school teachers in prevention of cervical cancer

Abstract

Because of the increased emphasis on prevention and early detection of cervical cancer, we studied the effects of 2 educational methods on the knowledge, attitude, and practice, as regards prevention of cervical cancer, of women high school teachers in Tabriz. This study was a semiexperimental research. Samples were 129 female teachers divided in 3 groups: experimental 1 (educated by pamphlets), experimental 2 (educated by a lecture and flash cards), and control group (not manipulated). After doing pretest in the 3 groups, investigators used 2 educational methods for experimental groups. Data regarding the knowledge and attitude of 3 groups were gathered after 14 days and data regarding practice were gathered after 2 months. Chi-square and 1-way ANOVA were used for data analysis. Before education, knowledge, attitude, and practice of the 3 groups were the same, but after education there were significant differences in mean scores of knowledge and attitude of 2 experimental groups as compared with the control group and also between the 2 experimental groups (P <.001). Education by lecture and flash cards was more effective than by pamphlets. In regard to Pap smear practice, there was a significant difference between the 2 experimental groups as compared with the control group (P =.001), but there was no significant difference between the 2 experimental groups. Therefore, educational methods were effective on knowledge, attitude, and practice of teachers regarding prevention of cervical cancer and education by lecture and flash cards was more effective than by pamphlets in increasing knowledge and inducing a positive attitude but the 2 educational methods had the same effect on practice of teachers.