INTRODUCTION:

“Alert today, Alive tomorrow” Health is an essential indicator for a happy contended life. Prevention is a disease related concept and health promotion is a health related one. Health behaviour is a major target of teaching, and it is assumed that teaching helps in changing behaviour through cognitive and affective behavioural changes.

In 1918, flu virus became pandemic because during World War – I, the normal host-pathogen relationship was abandoned when young men crowded into geographical confinement. “Till date, samples of 76, 922 people have been tested for influenza A (H1N1) in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country and 14, 481 of them have been found positive”. It is now up to the research and administration to ensure that some of this propose new finding is devoted to basic scientific health research that can unlock growing threats around the world.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Assessment of knowledge on swine flu among early adults.

2. Provide health education on prevention of swine flu among early adults.

3. Assessment of knowledge on swine flu after health education.

4. Issue pamphlet on swine flu to enhance knowledge on prevention of swine flu.

Material and methods:

Research design:

One group pretest and post test design was adopted for this study.

Setting:

This study was conducted in Sri Ramakrishna Arts and Science College for Women. This institution is situated near to Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Avarampalayam Road, Sidhapudur. It consists of 1698 students.

Sampling technique and sample size:

Convenient sampling technique was adopted for this study to select the samples. 60 samples were selected from this institution.

Criteria for sample selection:

Inclusive Criteria:

· Students of I, II and III Year B. Sc. Bio-Chemistry department

· Students who had pre-degree programme.

· Students in the age group of 17-21 years.

Exclusive Criteria:

Students selected for pilot study.

Description of tool:

Part I: Demographic variables consist of age, sex, residence, level of education, no. of hours, exposure in crowded areas.

Part – II: Assessment of knowledge was done by using multiple choice questionnaires which was prepared by the investigator. It consists of total 25 questions related to swineflu. Each correct response carries one score and each wrong response carried zero score. The total score on knowledge was 25.

Obtained score

Score interpretation=…………………… X 100

Total score

>75% - Adequate knowledge

51- 75% -Moderately adequate knowledge

<50% -Inadequate knowledge

Data collection procedure:

Data was collected regarding demographic variable and knowledge on swine flu with the help of structured questionnaire. The investigator maintained good rapport with the samples. Lecture cum discussion method was used with the help of PowerPoint. After ten days, post test was conducted with the same questionnaire with the same group of students.

Among 60 samples, the maximum 47% of samples were between 17-18 years and minimum of 11% samples between 21-22 years.

Assessment of knowledge level of early adult about swine flu and its prevention:

Knowledge level	<50%	51-75%	>75%
Pre –test	27	30	3
Post – test	-	5	55

The knowledge level of the respondents increases in the post test when compared with pre-test. The no. of samples with >75% knowledge level was vastly increased from 3 to 55 after an education.

Analysis of pretest and post test:

Test	Mean	S.D.	Mean difference	‘t’ value
Pre –test	12.78	3.7017	7.73	17.565
Post – test	20.52	1.9695	7.73	17.565

Results and discussion:

In pretest, the mean and standard deviation of knowledge level were whereas in 12.78 and 3.7017. Posttest it was 20.52 and 1.9695. The post test value is greater than the pre-test with knowledge level 7.73 mean difference.

Conclusion:

Health information can be imparted through various methods like lectures, mass media, pamphlets, display etc. Any teaching strategy which is simple, clear and attractive allows the learner to follow instructions easily. Nurses have a potentially important role to position themselves in all areas of community in preparing different teaching strategies suitable for the possible intervention. The preventive programmes for the public helps in the maintenance of health by modification of lifestyles.

Acknowledgement:

The investigator is indebted towards the efficient guidance and direction of subject experts, Prof. Ramathilagam and Dr. Sellakumar.

References:

1. Anant Phadke. (2009). Response to an epidemic of novel H1N1 flu in Pune: need for introspection Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, vol. VI, No: 4, Oct-Nov, P. No: 176-178.

2. Anuradha. B (2010). Deadly swine flu; Unani Home Remedies. Namath’s Herbal Unani Medicine, Vol. 11, No: 4, April, P. No: 13-14.

3. Burns. N and Grove, S. (2002). Understanding Nursing Research. 3^rd Edition, London, W.B. Saunders Company.

4. Gopal Raj, N. (2009). Studying the H1 N1 virus, Health Action, June, P. No. 36-38.

5. Peter, C., Stephen. J. Turner (2008). Research guide, Influenza A (H1N1) Swine flu. 1^st ed., New York, La Guardia Publications.

6. Shakila Shankar (2009). Swine flu prevention and cure. Nightingale Nursing times, vol.5, No:1, April, P. No.: 15-19.

7. Winona, B. (2010). Research Methods for nurses. 4^th ed., Philadelphia. Lohne’s Publications.

Received on 23.01.2011 Modified on 29.01.2011

Asian J. Nur. Edu. & Research 1(1): Jan.-March 2011; Page 01-02