Using drama to prevent teen smoking: development, implementation, and evaluation of crossroads in Hawai'i.
The use of drama as a preventive education measure has demonstrated success in various health promotion venues and offers promise in promoting positive youth attitudes and behavior change related to tobacco use. Especially important is a need to implement culturally relevant methods to reach youth. This article describes the development and implementation of a tobacco prevention drama for Asian and Pacific Islander youth. The resulting play, Crossroads, features a soap opera-style drama interspersed with humorous vignettes and multimedia effects and incorporates cultural cues, mannerisms, dress, and values consistent with Asian and Pacific Islander youth culture. Evaluation data indicate that the drama has an effect on audience knowledge, attitudes, and intended behavior, including a change in future intent to smoke cigarettes and the ability of audience members to develop connections with the characters in the play and apply concepts that are presented in the play to their own lives.
Mitschke
Diane B
DB
University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work in Arlington, Texas.
Loebl
Karen
K
Tatafu
Elitei
E
Matsunaga
Doris Segal
DS
Cassel
Kevin
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D001213:Asian; D002755:Choice Behavior; D054521:Cultural Competency; D004324:Drama; D006254:Hawaii; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention