title: Effectiveness of the Brazilian version of the Dangerous Decibels(®) educational program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of a Brazilian version of the Dangerous Decibels(®) educational program in increasing students' knowledge and positively changing their attitudes and intended behaviors related to NIHL prevention and to decrease exposures to loud sounds and the barriers related to hearing protective strategies (HPS).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective longitudinal controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Third to fifth graders (n = 220) filled out a baseline questionnaire; participated in a 60 minutes Dangerous Decibels(®) classroom presentation; answered a follow-up questionnaire immediately after the presentation; worked with their teachers on an activity booklet about hearing health ten weeks later; and filled out a three-months follow-up questionnaire. Students that did not receive health hearing education served as a control group (n = 51). A mixed analysis of variance was performed, with time as the within-subjects independent variable, and the intervention as the between-subjects independent variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study group exhibited significant short- and long-term improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and intended behavior related to NIHL and acoustic trauma prevention, and in decreased exposures to loud sounds and barriers to the use of hearing protective strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated the effectiveness of a Brazilian version of the Dangerous Decibels classroom program with an additional supplementary workbook intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Rehabilitation, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (Universidade Estadual de Campinas) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Keila A Baraldi
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Knobel
authors.forename: Maria Cecília Pinheiro Marconi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lima
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D004430:Ear Protective Devices; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010174:Pamphlets; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors