An Evaluative Study to Determine the Impact of an Educational Intervention on Knowledge, Attitude, and Coping Abilities Related to Substance Abuse Among Inmates Attending De-addiction Centers in Selected Districts of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Substance abuse remains a major public health concern, adversely affecting individuals’ physical, psychological, and social well-being. Educational interventions play a vital role in enhancing knowledge, shaping positive attitudes, and strengthening coping abilities among individuals undergoing treatment for substance abuse. The present study aimed to assess the impact of an educational intervention on knowledge, attitude, and coping abilities related to substance abuse among inmates of de-addiction centres. A quantitative pre-experimental research approach with a one-group pre-test–post-test design was adopted for the study. The objectives were to assess the pre-test and post-test levels of knowledge, attitude, and coping abilities related to substance abuse, to evaluate the effectiveness of the educational intervention, and to determine the association between these variables and selected demographic characteristics. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire comprising a socio-demographic profile, a knowledge questionnaire, a Likert scale to assess attitude, and a rating scale to assess coping abilities. The findings revealed that inmates had poor knowledge, unfavourable attitudes, and unhealthy coping abilities related to substance abuse at baseline. Following the educational intervention, the post-test mean (SD) knowledge score was 16.85 (2.96), with 65% of participants demonstrating good knowledge and 35% very good knowledge. The post-test mean (SD) attitude score was 47.74 (7.59), with 85% of inmates exhibiting a favourable attitude. The post-test means (SD) coping ability score was 38.96 (6.66), and 82.7% of participants demonstrated healthy coping abilities. The study concluded that the structured educational intervention programme was effective in significantly improving knowledge, attitude, and coping abilities related to substance abuse among inmates of de-addiction centers. The findings highlight the importance of nurse-led educational interventions in substance abuse rehabilitation settings.