A Study to Assess the Knowledge regarding Substance Abuse in Adolescents among teachers in selected PU Colleges at Bangalore with a view to develop a Video
Mrs. Bindu Kumari, Mrs. Nisha C.K, Dr. Manohari
1Tutor, St John's College of Nursing, Koramangala, Bangalore, India.
2HOD and Professor, Dept of Psychiatric, St. John’s College of Nursing, Koramangala, Bangalore, India.
3Professor, Dept of Psychiatric, St. John’s Hospital, Koramangala, Bangalore, India.
*Corresponding Author E-mail: bindugopal735@gmail.com
ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Substance abuse is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences Substance abuse is the use of psychoactive substance that poses significant hazards to health and interferes with social, occupational, psychological or physical functioning1. The teenage years are a critical window of vulnerability to substance uses disorder; because the brain is still developing and malleable, adolescents are high risk group to avoid the temptations of experimenting with drugs3. A survey shows that of all alcohol 21%, cannabis 3%, and opium 0.1% users are below the age of 18years. Overall 0.4% and 4.6% of total treatment seekers in various states were children5. According to a survey conducted by the Karnataka State Temperance Board, Bangalore, in 2012, about 30% of school and college students in Bangalore are drug addicts. WHO estimates that by 2020, based on the current trends, worldwide can expect 10 million deaths per year1. Materials and methods: The research design selected for this study was descriptive design. The setting selected was PU Colleges in Bangalore. 40 PU College teachers were selected for the study using simple random sampling technique. A demographic proforma to collect the data and structured knowledge questionnaire to assess the knowledge was used. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: The current study reveals that out of 40 subjects, 75% of teacher’s had average knowledge and 17.5% good knowledge; subjects had knowledge regarding prevention and management 70%, and meaning/concept 65%. The study revealed statistically that there is no significant association between the knowledge and demographic variables of age, sex, marital status, qualification, designation and there is significant association with source of knowledge. Conclusion: The study findings suggested that the knowledge of teachers regarding substance abuse in adolescents is average. Has an outcome substance abuse video was developed as an educating the teachers and adolescents.
KEYWORDS: Substance Abuse, Teachers, PU College, Knowledge.
INTRODUCTION:
Substance abuse is the use of psychoactive substance that poses significant hazards to health and interferes with social, occupational, psychological or physical functioning.2
The commonly used substance is alcohol, tobacco, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, opioids, and substituted amphetamines. The exact cause of substance abuse is not clear, but it manifests itself as a chronic debilitating diseases.2 The adolescent brain is often linked to a car with a fully functioning gas pedal (the reward system) but weak breaks (the prefrontal cortex). Teenagers are highly motivated to pleasurable rewards and avoid pain. For these reasons, adolescents are high risk group to avoid the temptations of experimenting with drugs.3
Globally, it is estimated that between 162 to 324 million, (3.5% and 7.0%) of the world mainly abuse substances belonging to the cannabis, cocaine or amphetamine type stimulants group at least once in the previous years.4 Department of Education’s websites in U.S. states, shows that the percentage of total expulsion for substance abuse-related infractions in recent years has ranged from as low 5.6% (Maryland State Department of Education, 2014) to as high as 43.9% (Colorado Department of Education, 2015) in adolescents.6
National commission for protection of child rights, report says over 88% teenagers from Karnataka consumes alcohol, 84.7%Andhra Pradesh, Haryana 80%.7 Teens today face risk; ole AIDS and exposure to a wide range of prescription drug when combined with alcohol, these drugs can be deadly.8 Today, individuals use this substance as a trend for all rituals, and technology which made easy availability of this substance, individual abuse this substance for every discomfort of life process without considering their own age limits, and uses to overcome anxiety or frustration, relieve from pain, attainment of pleasure10.
Narcotics Control Bureau, 2014 reported that youngsters are more vulnerable to drug addiction. Bangalore with huge floating population, is famous ‘drug capital’ of south India. The most popular among Bangalore’s youth is LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide also known as acid), followed by hashish, ecstasy pills, ganja, heroin, cocaine and MDMA, a pure form of ecstasy that goes by the street name ‘molly”.3 The high rates of drug abuse among college students can be attributed to a number of factors, such as stress as students are facing the high demands of coursework, part time jobs, internships, social obligations and more, may turn to drugs as way to cope up.2
More course load to students initiate to take stimulants, to help them stay awake long enough to study or complete assignments by their due dates. Curiosity in college students exploring many new aspects of their lives in personal and professional reality, peer pressure college students who are surrounded by other people experimenting with recreational and performance enhancing drugs are more likely to try these substances for themselves, alcohol makes up the vast majority of substance-related problems on college campus. The goal of the teachers to prepare the next generation of education leaders to meet the practice, policy, and research challenged of the 21st century in related to substance abuse.2
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
This study was a descriptive design conducted at PU Colleges at Bangalore. We obtained the approval of the institutional Ethic committee before the initiation of the study and after obtaining appropriate administrative permission, and permission from the PU College principle and teachers the study commenced.
To observe the mean knowledge score of 55.2±12.5 with the relative precision 10% and 95% confidence level, the sample size required was 20. Sample size of 40 was taken for the study.40 Samples were selected using non probability purposive sampling.
The following instruments were used to collect data:
Section A: Proforma to collect the demographic variable.
Section B: Questionnaire to assess the knowledge regarding substance abuse in adolescents.
Written consent from teachers was obtained. The investigators introduced and explained and administered the demographic proforma, knowledge questionnaire.
Finding related to demographic variables of teachers:
The subjects in the present study comprised of 40 PU college teachers. The study findings revealed that the mean age of the teachers was 34.65±6.76 and the majority of the subjects (47.5%) were between the age group of 30-40 years. In the current study, majority of the subjects were female (55%), most of them were married (82.5%), majority with MA qualification (30%) followed by MSc (27.5%) and also majority of the subjects were lecturers (95%). Around 35% of them had more than 10years of experience. The major source of knowledge regarding substance abuse The major source of knowledge regarding substance abuse was from media (70%), followed by books (20%), and about (10%) have not responded to the source of knowledge.
Findings related to knowledge regarding substance abuse in adolescents among teachers.
The study also revealed that 75% of PU college teachers had average level of knowledge. About 17.5% had poor knowledge and 7.5% had good knowledge.
Findings related to association of knowledge with demographic variables.
In the present study mean knowledge score of PU College teachers was 16.5±3.89 which shows that the knowledge of teachers was average. The knowledge questionnaire on substance abuse had 30 questions categorized into 5 domains, such as meaning/concept, cause and risk factor, warning signs, action and methods, prevention and management. The present study findings revealed that the subjects had maximum knowledge regarding prevention and management (70%), followed by meaning/concept (65%), warning signs (61.8%), and least knowledge in cause and risk factor (49%), action and method of use (35%). The result revealed that there was significant association in domains and demographic variables, meaning/concept domain association to marital status, cause/risk factor domain association with years of experience, warning signs domain association with age, marital status, prevention and management domain association with age, and years of experience.
DISCUSSION:
The study reveals that the majority of the PU College teachers had average knowledge regarding substance abuse in adolescents.
The present study reveals majority of teachers expressed that they have less exposure to the topic.
The current study revealed a statistically significant association between knowledge and years of experience (p<0.02) which suggest that those who had less years of experience had good knowledge. An attempt was made to associate various domains of knowledge with demographic variables.
IMPLICATIONS:
· Implications for clinical practice Nurse must understand that substance abuse is common among adolescents and should have sound knowledge on substance abuse.
· Nurse can play a major role in preventing substance abuse by educating the adolescents regarding the same.
· Nurse can inculcate this knowledge in adolescent by conducting school or college health programme.
· Nurse can also use video to teach school/college teachers to make them aware of substance abuse in adolescents.
· Nurses can organize awareness program regarding substance abuse in the community settings.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
· Some study can be replicated on large sample to generalize the findings.
· A study can be conducted to identify the effectiveness of video on knowledge of teachers.
· A study can be done to assess the attitude of teachers towards substance abuse.
· A study can be conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude of adolescents regarding substance abuse.
· A study can be conducted to identify the health impact of substance abuse in adolescents
CONCLUSION:
The investigator observed that the teachers are good supports for the adolescents in educating about substance abuse; the video helps to get some ideas regarding substance abuse and plan, to teach the adolescents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
I am deeply indebted and extend my heartfelt gratitude to my guide Mrs. Nish C.K and co guide Dr Manohari for the guidance and constant support. Also I thank the PUCollege teachers who participated and helped me to complete this study successfully.
REFERENCES:
1. Child protection and child rights vulnerable children’s. Children’s current issues of substance abuse. www.childlineindia.org.in/ children 2015.
2. Research release first report on worldwide addiction statistics. www.drugfree.org/news.../researches-release-first-report-worldwide-association-addiction-statistical; June 2015;2
3. Drug use and its health and social consequences. World drug report, United nation office drug and crime; Tobacco in china, WHO representative office, western specific region. www.who.int/ mediacentre/factssheetss/349/en
4. Alcohol rehab .com.seeking addition treatment in Thailand; alcoholrehab.com/alcoholism/alcoholism-in-india
5. Murthy Pratima, Manjunath Narayana, Subodh BN, Vivek Benegal. Substance use and addiction and treatment. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, January 2010; 189-199.
6. Krin S, Griswold, Aronoff Helen, Joan B, Kernan, Khan S. Linda American Family Physician, Adolescent substance use and abuse, recognition and management, February 2008; 77.
7. Substance arising amongst Indian kido; www.dnaindia.com/india/ report-substance-abuse-rising-amonsgt-india-kids-2027658.
8. Gupta. S, Singh. S, Kumar. D. Study on prevalence, Pattern and familial effects of substance use among the male college students in North India. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2013 August: 7(8): 1632-1636
9. Arsumani. Study on knowledge and attitude among late adolescents towards alcoholism in selected colleges in Bangalore. Journal of Science, 2013;
10. Jani. V., Swamy et al. Study on effectiveness of planned teaching programme on knowledge regarding ill effect of alcohol vadodara district. Journal of Nursing and Health Science, 2014 September; 3(5): 16-21.
11. Juyal R, Bansal R, Kishore S, Negi K , Chandra R , Semwal J. Substance use among intercollege students in district Dehradun. Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 2006; 31(4): 252-254.
12. Nahvizadeh Mnr, Akhavan Shahreh, et.al. A review study of abuse status in high school students in Iran. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2014 December; S77-S82.
13. Goswami YP, DR. Jayalakshmi LS, DR Mathur DM. Study to assess the Effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding substance abuse among adolescent at selected nursing colleges of Udaipur district, Rajasthan, India Journal of Scientific and Research Publication, 2015; 5(2): 2250-3153.
14. Adidela Praneeth Reddy, Donnaram Praveen Kumar, Akondi Butchi Raju. A study on prevalence and pattern of substance abuse among street children and adolescents in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Indian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Sciences, 2014 July; ISSN; 2231-6345, vol(3): 1-14.
15. William B, Hansen, Ralph. B. Mc Neal. Drug education practice; results of an observational study health education research theory and practice. 1999; 14: 85-97.
16. Madrine King. Behaviour disorder related to drug abuse among secondary school students in Kenya. Journal of Education and Practice, 2015; vol(6); 1775-2222.
17. Beatriz Franck Tavaresa, Jorge, Factors associated with drug use among adolescent students in southern Brazil, Rev, Due Sadica. 2004; (38).
18. Shalini J, K sheshadiri TK Rani DS. Study to assess knowledge of higher secondary school teacher regarding substance abuse in selected school of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. International Journal of Nursing Education, 2015; 7(4): 23-26.
19. Adelekan Ml, Ogunlesi GO, Akindele OM. Secondary school teacher’s knowledge and views about drug abuse in ogun state, Nigeria a pilot study. Department of Behavioral Science, Univeristy of IIorin, 2017; (2)22: 163-174.
20. Ozlem Nazan, Erlogan, Mohmet Sarpes E. Study public school educators in Brazil to investigate the knowledge about the attitude towards drug abuse by students, J Pak Med Association, 2011 October; 61(10).
Received on 17.02.2021 Modified on 19.03.2021
Accepted on 21.04.2021 ©AandV Publications All right reserved
Int. J. of Advances in Nur. Management. 2021; 9(3):289-291.
DOI: 10.52711/2454-2652.2021.00064