Effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge regarding Risk Factors and Preventive Measures for Suicidal Behaviour among Adolescents Studying in a selected Pre-University College at Kudal

The adolescent suicide rate has greatly increased in recent years being third leading cause of death among adolescents. Suicides in age group between 15-24 years accounted for 5 % of all suicides but now it is increased to 14 %. Hence the investigator felt the need to evaluate the Effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge regarding Risk Factors and Preventive Measures for Suicidal Behaviour among Adolescents studying in a selected Pre-University College at Kudal. The Objectives of the Study: 1. To evaluate the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on risk factors and preventive measures for suicidal behaviour among adolescents. Methods: An evaluative approach with pre-experimental one group pre-test post-test design was used for the study to accomplish the objectives. The researcher himself developed a structured teaching program and self-structured questionnaire on risk factors and preventive measures for suicidal behaviour. Reliability of the tool (r=0.902) was tested by split-half technique. A sample of 50 adolescents was selected by multi-stage random sampling technique. The data collected before and after the administration of STP were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Assessment of pre-test knowledge revealed that majority (92 %) of the respondents had an average knowledge on risk factors and preventive measures for suicidal behaviour. The total mean precentage of the pre-test knowledge score was 45.78 % with mean and SD 16.48±2.73 and the mean percentage of post-test knowledge score was 83 % with mean and SD 29.88±2.24. Significance of difference between the pre-test and post-test knowledge scores was statistically tested using paired ‘t’ test and it was found to be highly significant [t= 32.9173, pless than0.05].