Interactive Multimedia Training in Osteoporosis Prevention of Female High School Students

Background and objectives: Osteoporosis is one of the fastest growing health problems in the world. Given the limitations of traditional teaching methods in the learning process of adolescents and the importance of training health beliefs in this age period, this study was designed to investigate the effects of osteoporosis prevention training through interactive multimedia method and educational booklet on the degree of knowledge and self-efficacy of female high school students. Materials and Methods: In this interventional study which was conducted in 2016 in in Fars province, Iran. 120 high school students were selected through proportional stratified sampling from schools and different classes at first, second, third, and pre-university grades. The participants were randomly divided into two groups, each containing 60 students. Educational interventions for the test group included an interactive multimedia CD, and for the control group was an educational booklet. Before and one month after the intervention the students level of knowledge and self-efficacy was measured through healthy bones Knowledge Questionnaire (HBNQ) and osteoporosis self-efficacy questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the questionnaires were evaluated. SPSS19 statistical software was used and descriptive and analytical tests including t-test and chi-square test were performed to analyze the data. Acceptable level of significance was less than 0.05. Results: Results showed a significant difference in self-efficacy scores after the intervention (p = .012) with the test group obtained a higher self-efficacy score than the control group. Also, a significant increase was observed in the HBK of both groups after the training (p .001), but the HBK between the two groups was not statistically significant (p = .38) after the intervention. Discussion and conclusion: Training in the field of osteoporosis can enhance both healthy bone knowledge and self-efficacy, and thus, improves students performance. The use of new training methods like interactive multimedia CD for public education, particularly adolescents about health and hygiene is recommended.