[Comparing the effect of two teaching methods about HIV/AIDS on the students knowledge and attitude at Islamic Azad University of Lahijan in 2003]

ABSTRACT

Teaching is a basic strategy in health programs. Concerns on sexually transmitted diseases has dramatically grown in recent years. Teaching can be a proper strategy to prevent these diseases, because these diseases are often acquired through avoidable and changeable behavior. To compare the effect of two educational methods, lecture [using film and pamphlet] and poster, on students' knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS. This research was a quasi-experimental study. The sample consisted of 160 students, chosen using stratified - random sampling and divided into equal groups of lecture and poster. A questionnaire including three sections with 54 questions [demographic information, knowledge and attitude] was completed by the subjects in two stages, before and after teaching. Independent and paired t-test were used to analyze the data. The finding indicated a significant difference between pretest and posttest of knowledge scores in both teaching methods [P<0.0001]. The mean of knowledge scores in lecture group improved from 35.18 to 75.7 and in poster from 35.8 to 48.51. A significant difference was observed between pre and post-test the means of attitude scores for lecture [p<0.0001] and poster [p<0.001]. The mean of attitude scores improved from 17.38 to 27.78 in the lecture group and from 15.36 to 18.68 in the poster group. Comparing the two methods, the results showed a significant difference in knowledge [P<0.0001] and attitude level in two groups [P<0.0001]. Lecture teaching had more effect on improving knowledge and attitude of the students about HIV/AIDS. As a result, the effective and codified educational programs are proved as basic strategies to improve knowledge and attitude of the young about HIV/AIDS in order to prevent this disease