Knowledge, attitudes, and opinions of Turkish private school principals regarding substance abuse

• Published in: Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association Vol. 61; no. 10; pp. 953 - 960
• Main Authors: ERDOGAN, Ozlem Nazan, ERDOGAN, Mehmet Sarper, KAYA, Safiye, ULUS, Tumer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Karachi Pakistan Medical Association 31.10.2011; Knowledge Bylanes
• Subjects: Adult; Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Drug and Narcotic Control - legislation & jurisprudence; Education; Educational aspects; Faculty; Female; General aspects; Health aspects; Health attitudes; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Laws, regulations and rules; Legislation, Food; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Private schools; Private Sector - organization & administration; Risk factors; School principals; Schools - organization & administration; Substance abuse; Substance-Related Disorders - prevention & control; Surveys and Questionnaires; Turkey; Asia; Turkey; Tropical medicine; Substance abuse; Attitude; Knowledge; School environment
• ISSN: 0030-9982

To determine the knowledge, attitude, and opinion of private school principals in Kocaeli, Turkey regarding substance abuse. Data of this descriptive study was collected by questionnaires in December 2008. The questionnaire, developed based on Turkey's "substance abuse regulations," was applied to the principals of private schools in Kocaeli affiliated with the Ministry of National Education. A survey was conducted and risk factors for these schools were determined. The data was analysed with Pearson correlation test, Spearmen correlation test and Kruskal-Wallis one way analysis used. Principals of 27 of 31 schools were reached. Six (22.2 %) were women; 21 (77.8 %) were men. Average age was 43.37 +/- 10.08 years. Average years of teaching was 21.55 +/- 10.77 years. Mean period as a school principal was 9.42 +/- 9.36 years. Seventy-one percent of the principals who participated in the survey were non-smokers. The majority of principals considered substance abuse as a problem in Turkey and believed it to be more among primary and high school students.