The effect of the PALMSS alcohol prevention program on maintaining of low-risk drinking level among low-risk drinkers in high school

Abstract

The PALMSS (P = peer, A = alcohol knowledge, L = low-risk drinking, M = media-influence, S = social drinking and S = self-efficacy) alcohol prevention program is an extra-curricular alcohol educational program delivered via CD-ROM, designed for senior high school students who are low-risk drinkers. This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of the PALMSS alcohol prevention program on increasing alcohol knowledge, maintaining low-risk drinking limits and reducing alcohol consumption among grade-11th senior students in Phayao province since they had high prevalence of alcohol consumption. A quasi-experiment was implemented in two high schools with 150 low-risk drinkers voluntarily participating in the program (Intervention, n=75; Control, n=75). Assessment was conducted by interview at baseline, exit point (4 weeks after baseline),1, 3 and 6 months post intervention. Data were analyzed using Exact test, Mann-Whitney test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, independent t-test and repeated measures ANOVA. The findings revealed that after adjusting for Grade Point Average and peer drinking, there was a positive effect of the PALMSS alcohol prevention program on the increase of alcohol knowledge after implementing the program until at 6-month follow-up (p < 0.001), maintaining low-risk drinking limits (p = 0.008) and reduction alcohol consumption at 6-month follow-up (p = 0.026). Research suggests that the PALMSS alcohol prevention program is appropriate in educating senior high school students who are low-risk drinkers in order to prevent excessive alcohol consumption in high school children.