Effects of a drug misuse and abuse prevention program on knowledge, attitude, and preventive behaviors related to drug misuse and abuse, and depression in low-income elderly women

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the effects of a drug misuse and abuse prevention program on knowledge, attitude, and preventive behaviors related to drug misuse and abuse, and depression in low-income elderly women in the urban area. METHOD: The design of this study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The subjects consisted of 26 in the experimental group and 23 in the control group. The program was performed for about 1 hour, once a week for 5 weeks. Data was analyzed by the SAS(ver.8.02) computer program, and it included descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon signed ranks test, and ANCOVA. RESULT: There were statistically significant differences in knowledge, attitude, and preventive behaviors related to drug misuse and abuse, and depression between the experimental group and the control group. CONCLUSION: This study showed that this prevention program of drug misuse and abuse is appropriate for low-income elderly women, Therefore this program is recommended as a nursing intervention strategy for the elderly.