Development of an educational module against tramadol abuse and its effectiveness among youths in Benue State, Nigeria

Tramadol abuse among Nigerian youths has reached a worrisome level, with a projection to surpass the rate of cannabis abuse. Despite this, community educational modules on drug addiction are non-existent. The objective of this study was to develop an educational module against tramadol abuse (Edu...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Orfega, Zwawua
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2021
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Online Access:http://eprints.usm.my/53421/1/ZWAWUA%20ORFEGA-FINAL%20THESIS%20P-SKD002518%28R%29%20PWD_-24%20pages.pdf
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Summary:Tramadol abuse among Nigerian youths has reached a worrisome level, with a projection to surpass the rate of cannabis abuse. Despite this, community educational modules on drug addiction are non-existent. The objective of this study was to develop an educational module against tramadol abuse (Edu-MATA) and test its effectiveness among youths in Benue State. The study was implemented in three phases using a mixed-method design. The first phase developed the module based on Sidek Module Development Model. The content of the module was sourced from literature review and focus group discussion. The content was selected according to the three constructs of the IMB model: information, motivation and behavioral skills. The second phase of the study involved constructing assessment tools and determining their validity and internal consistency. The third phase was a community-based intervention study using quasi-experimental design to test the effectiveness of the Edu-MATA. The study participants consisted of 49 and 48 tramadol abusers in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The intervention group received education on tramadol and the skills for quitting its abuse using Edu-MATA. On the other hand, the control group was engaged in aerobic dance and drama throughout the intervention period. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RM ANOVA) was used to test the difference in mean values for knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and behaviour between the two groups before the intervention, two weeks, and three months after the intervention. The result of the first phase showed a content validity achievement of 85.8% and a reliability coefficient of 0.76 for the newly developed module, indicating the Edu-MATA was valid and reliable. The results of the second phase showed that all the assessment tools (Tram-KNOW, Tram-MIND, Tram-QUIT and Tram-BEHAV) were valid and internally consistent. The third phase of the study showed increased mean value for knowledge about tramadol (F = 480.6, p = .001), decreased mean value for positive attitude towards tramadol (F = 360.3, p = .001), increased mean value for self-efficacy for quitting tramadol (F = 185.8, p = .001), and a decreased mean value for tramadol abuse behaviour (F = 104.1, p = .001) in the intervention group as compared to the control group after the intervention. This indicates the effectiveness of the Edu-MATA in curbing tramadol abuse. The Edu-MATA can be adopted by health promotion specialists, addiction counsellors, psychiatrists, officials of rehabilitation homes, and even researchers interested in the abuse of tramadol among the youths.