Accidents in Primary Education Schools: Findings from a Nurse-Led Drama-Based Prevention Program.

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the causes of school accidents and examine the preliminary findings of a nurse-led, drama-based accident prevention program for children. This was a quasi-experimental study using a pretest-posttest approach with a single group. Data were collected using demographic information, school accident notification form, and Information and Behavior Scales for the Safety Measures of the Students. A total of 407 students formed the sample. A drama-supported education program designed to prevent accidents, developed by nurses working in school health, was implemented based on the most common school accidents. The nurses were actively involved in every program stage, including designing the content, guiding participants, and monitoring progress throughout the intervention. The mean age of the students was 11.2 ± 1.4; 51.8% were girls, and 50.3% were at the primary school. The students' average knowledge scale pretest score was 102.15 ± 21.4736; the behavior scale pretest score was 78.22 ± 11,228; the mean knowledge scale posttest score was 174.75 ± 9.34, behavior scale posttest mean score was 109.62 ± 14.56. This study highlights the crucial role of school nurses in accident prevention and health promotion among students. Based on preliminary findings, drama-based educational programs may improve knowledge and safety behaviors in the school environment.