TITLE:
Effect of an E-Educational Poster on Improving the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice on the Proper Use of Face Masks among School Students
AUTHORS:
T. M. S. R. Thunpaththu, W. M. S. Weerasinghe, H. M. K. B. Herath, H. A. H. Jayawardana, L. Kanivila, W. M. S. T. Weerasinghe, W. M. S. A. Weerasinghe, T. M. U. S. Thunpaththu, D. M. T. P. Dissanayake
KEYWORDS:
Covid-19, Prevention, Face Mask, E-Educational Poster, School Students
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.14 No.9,
September
26,
2022
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Two spread methods of Covid-19, namely airborne and respiratory droplets, can be prevented by proper use of face masks. However, it has been reported an inadequate knowledge attitude and practice of proper use of face masks among school students. Therefore, the knowledge, attitude, and practice of school students should be improved. Different approaches are used to improve knowledge, attitude, and practice. However, e-posters are rare, and the effect of e-posters on improving the knowledge, attitude, and practice of school students on the proper use of face masks has not been studied. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of an e-educational poster on knowledge, attitude, and practice of the proper use of face masks among school students. Method: This study was conducted as a pre-test and post-test design. The sample was 364 grade 11 students of the Gampaha educational division, Sri Lanka. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires distributed pre and post to the interventional e-education poster. Data analyses were conducted by using SPSS Software. Results: Results show no significant demographic difference (p = 0.446) between the pre and post-test groups. A significant increase was observed between the pre and post-test mean scores of knowledge (p ≤ 0.05), attitude (p ≤ 0.05), and practice (p ≤ 0.05) on the proper use of face masks. In pre-group knowledge (p = 0.155), attitude (p = 0.258) and practice (p = 0.211) shows no significant difference due to gender. Also post group knowledge (p = 0.079), attitude (p = 0.835) and practice (p = 0.435) shows no significant difference due to gender. Conclusions: The results suggest that e-educational posters may be useful to improve the knowledge, attitude, and practice on the proper use of face masks among school students. The improvement of knowledge, attitude, and practice on the proper use of face masks by e-educational posters among school students occurs irrespective of gender.