RELATIONSHIP OF KNOWLEDGE AND HEALTH LOCUS-OF-CONTROL OF EARLY ADOLESCENT MALES TO THE USE OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO (TOBACCO).
Contributors: University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Published: 1989
Number of pages: 81
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Public Health.
Description: The twofold purpose of this exploratory/descriptive study was to describe the relationship of knowledge and health locus of control of early adolescent males to the use of smokeless tobacco, and to determine if gaming was an effective educational strategy for disseminating information. The theoretical framework used to guide this investigation included Orem's Self-Care Theory and Bandura's Theory of Social Learning.

The sample consisted of 71 eighth-grade males in western Kentucky. Participation in the study was voluntary. Full Institutional Review Board approval was obtained in order to insure protection of human rights.

Four questionnaires were utilized for data collection: Tobacco Demographic Data Sheet; Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales; and one investigator-developed instrument, the Smokeless Tobacco Level of Knowledge Test.

The sample was described by the use of descriptive statistics. Chi-square analysis was significant for participants who used smokeless tobacco and a friend(s) who used smokeless tobacco; participants who had used smokeless tobacco and had a sibling(s) who used smokeless tobacco; and participants who smoked and had a friend(s) who smoked.

Canonical correlation analysis was performed to discern the relationship between the grouping and criterion variables. The analysis yielded only one significant canonical function out of a possibility of three functions. The canonical correlation accounted for 32% of the variance. The early adolescent males who had ever used smokeless tobacco and were less knowledgeable were influenced by powerful others, and to a degree internally, began using at an earlier age and were not influenced by chance locus of control.

The educational strategy of gaming was utilized to disseminate smokeless tobacco information. Findings from a paired t-test on pretest and posttest scores revealed a statistically significant increase in knowledge regarding smokeless tobacco.

Implications for nursing were presented. Recommendations were formulated.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-11, Section: B, page: 4987.

Thesis (D.S.N.)--UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, 1989.

School code: 0005.