A Pre-Experimental Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Program On Knowledge Regarding Healthy Eating Habits Among Adolescents at CASET School Karan Nagar Srinagar

Abstract

This pre-experimental study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Program in improving knowledge about healthy eating habits among adolescents at CASET School Karan Nagar, Srinagar. A sample of adolescents was selected using simple random sampling. A structured knowledge questionnaire was used to assess the participants' knowledge levels before and after the intervention. The intervention consisted of a Structured Teaching Program designed to provide information and promote healthy eating habits. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The study findings indicated a significant improvement in knowledge regarding healthy eating habits after the implementation of the Structured Teaching Program. These results highlight the importance of educational interventions in promoting healthy behaviors among adolescents. Aim and Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to enhance the knowledge of adolescents regarding Healthy Eating Habits, promote their health, and encourage the establishment of healthy behavioral patterns that will positively impact their well-being. This was achieved through the implementation of a Structured Teaching Programme. Material and Methods: The study utilized a pre-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design to assess the effectiveness of the Structured Teaching Programme in improving knowledge regarding Healthy Eating Habits among adolescents at CASET School Karan Nagar, Srinagar. The sample of 30 students was selected using the Simple Random Sampling technique from the accessible population. To ensure the validity of the study, the tool used (structured knowledge questionnaire) and the intervention (Structured Teaching Programme) was validated by a panel of experts. Pre-testing of the tool and intervention was conducted to assess their clarity and feasibility. A pilot study was also carried out on a group of adolescents separate from the study sample to evaluate the practicality of the research. The study procedure involved administering the pre-test, which consisted of the structured questionnaire, to a group of 30 students per day. On the same day, the Structured Teaching Programme was conducted. Subsequently, on the 7th day, the post-testwas administered using the same questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The results of the study indicated that among the 30 study participants, 66.7% had an average level of knowledge about Healthy Eating Habits, while 20.0% had a good level of knowledge. The mean score of the preinterventional knowledge level was 13.13, with a median of 13.07, a mode of 13.12, and a standard deviation of 2.90. At the post-interventional level, 80% of the participants demonstrated very good knowledge, with 20% having excellent knowledge. The mean score of the postinterventional pretest was 24.63, the median was 25, the mode was 24, and the standard deviation was 2.18. Overall, there was a notable increase in knowledge scores after the implementation of the Structured Teaching Programme. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that the adolescents initially had insufficient knowledge regarding Healthy Eating Habits. However, the implementation of the Structured Teaching Programme proved to be effective in improving their knowledge level. Therefore, there is a significant need to educate adolescents about Healthy Eating Habits to enhance their understanding and promote healthier behaviors.