Abstract :
Smoking is a bad behavior which can cause danger to health. Today, it becomes a habit for adolescents. It can actually be prevented by doing promotion through health education by using audio visual media which provides information and education for incressing good knowledge and attitude toward the prevention from smoking. The research problem was how about the influence of audio visual media on adolescents? knowledge and attitude. The objective of the research was to analyze the influence of audio visual media on adolescents? knowledge and attitude toward the danger of smoking at SMP Negeri 2 Halongonan Timur Subdistrict, Padang Lawas Utara Regency.
The research used quasi-experimental method with pretest-posttest design. It was conducted at SMP Negeri 2 Halongonan Timur Subdistrict, Padang Lawas Utara Regency. The samples were 84 Grades VII and VIII male students divided into 2 groups: intervention group ad control group. The data were gathered by using questionnaires.The hypothesis was tested by using paired t-test ad independent t-test.
The result of the research showed that there was significant influence of audio visual media (p<0.05) on adolescents? knowledge and attitude after they had been given intervention.
The conclusion was that audio viasual media was more effective in increasing adolescents? knowledge and attitude toward the danger of smoking. It is recommended that parents not smoke in front of their children. The school management should collaborate with the students? parents to discuss academic development and students? behavior, and health care providers should increase health education program about the danger of smoking.