EFFECTS OF SELF-EFFICACY PROGRAM ON HAND-FOOT-MOUTH DISEASE PREVENTION AMONG PARENTS OF CHILDREN, CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, SAMUT-SAKHON PROVINCE

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research was designed to examine the effects of a self-efficacy program on hand-foot-mouth disease prevention among parents of children, in two child development centers, Samut-Sakhon Province. The sample consisted of an experimental group of 32 parents and a comparison group of 32 parents. The results of the research indicated that the average scores of knowledge, perceived susceptibility and severity, self-efficacy and behaviors to prevent hand-foot-mouth disease before the experiment between the experimental and comparison groups were not significantly different (p>0.05). However, after the experiment, the experimental group had a higher average score in all the mentioned above variables than before the experiment and higher than the comparison group with statistical significance (p<0.05). In the comparison group, after the experiment, the average scores in all the mentioned above variables were not significantly higher than before the experiment (p> 0.05). The results of the research showed that this self-efficacy program can effectively develop parents’ knowledge, perceived susceptibility and severity, self-efficacy and behaviors to prevent hand-foot-mouth disease. Therefore, it should be applied in other child development centers.