Using drama to prevent teen smoking: development, implementation, and evaluation of crossroads in Hawai'i

Health Promot Pract. 2010 Mar;11(2):244-8. doi: 10.1177/1524839907309869. Epub 2008 Mar 6.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / ethnology
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
  • Asian
  • Choice Behavior
  • Cultural Competency
  • Drama*
  • Hawaii
  • Health Education / methods*
  • Humans
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
  • Smoking / ethnology
  • Smoking / psychology
  • Smoking Prevention*