Evaluation of “Choice-8”Effect in a Year after Implementing the Substance Abuse Prevention Program

Introduction:

“Choice-8” is a drug misuse, HIV/AIDS and crime prevention program for eighth-graders (13-14 years old students). It consists of ten sessions and includes five brief thematic documentaries: “Responsible Choice”, “Risks”, "Be Aware of Crime”, “HIV/AIDS: Challenge and Response”, “Your Future”, “Norms of Behavior”. It is conducted by certified trainers who are volunteers recruited among Pedagogical University freshmen, cadets of the Law College of the Penitentiary Service of Ukraine, juvenile delinquency police officers, social teachers and psychologists. In the academic year of 2013-2014, the program was implemented in 11 schools of Chernihiv and three schools of Odesa, Ukraine. A pre survey was conducted in October 2013 among 817 students. In February 2014 a post survey was carried out among 415 eighth-graders of the intervention group and 397 students of the control group. The surveys showed 12.8% use of alcohol and 14.2% tobacco use for the intervention group while for the control group there was 19.6% alcohol and 21.4% tobacco use. The goals of the current research project are to measure the longer-term effect of the “Choice-8”, as well to conduct a booster session.

Methods:

In October 2014 a follow-up survey was conducted in three schools of Chernihiv among 180 ninth-graders, half of which benefited of the “Choice-8” a year ago and another half constituted the control group. All of the students responded 12 questions of a questionnaire designed to find out the longer-term effect of the “Choice-8”. One of the questions aimed to measure tolerance to PLWH (People Living with HIV): “Are you ready to make friends with a person living with HIV?”. A booster session and the documentary, “Responsible Choice”, were offered for the intervention group after the October 2014 survey was carried out. The session included issues from all ten themes of the “Choice-8”.

Results:

The follow-up survey indicated that for the intervention group 16.2% students used alcohol and 17.5% ninths-graders used tobacco at least one time in the last 30 days; 82% students were ready to make friends with PLWH.  For the control group, 23.5% students used alcohol and 27.8% ninth-graders used tobacco in the last 30 days; 54% students were ready to make friends with PLWH.

Conclusion:

The findings demonstrate a lasting effect of the “Choice-8”. To measure subsequent effects of the program as well efficacy of the booster sessions, the research project will be continued in schools of Ukraine.