Citation

Jones PR, Sheppard MA, Snowden CB, Miller TR, Nelkin VS, Nguyen DD, Tominack I, Dunlap HC. Am. J. Health Educ. 2010; 41(3): 139-146.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Background: Unintentional poisoning is an important public health issue that exacts a heavy toll on our nation's seniors. However, relatively few empirical studies have examined the efficacy of poison prevention education programs on this cohort. Purpose: This study assessed the impact of a poison education program on the knowledge, perceptions, intentions, and behaviors of seniors in Missouri and West Virginia. Methods: One-hundred and twenty-seven seniors completed pre- and post-test surveys, which were designed to assess the program's efficacy. Participants were re-interviewed after four weeks to determine whether they had implemented the behaviors described in the program. Results: The results revealed that the program improved the knowledge of participants and impacted both their behavioral intentions and actual behaviors. Discussion: When taken together, these data indicate that brief educational interventions may be an effective tool in reducing the incidence of unintentional poisonings among seniors. Translation to Health Education Practice: More generally, these methods and findings suggest that single sessions of theory-driven health education can be effective for interventions among seniors.