An Integrated Program to Promote Anti-cannabis Messages

An Integrated Program Led by Nursing Students as Peer Role Models With Robots to Promote Anti-cannabis Messages in Parents and Their Children

The number of youngsters abusing cannabis is surging, the public health consequences caused by cannabis can be unpredictable. Educating the public especially the young population about cannabis need to be highlighted. To successfully promote anti-cannabis messages to youngsters and prevent them from taking cannabis, the involvement of their parents and modern technology such as robots can be helpful. This project aims to educate the young population and their parents about cannabis, particularly its legal consequences and clarifying their misconceptions.

A pre-post study design will be used. A total of 50 nursing students and 150 parent-child-dyads will be recruited by sending mass emails or sending invitation letters. The nursing students are in their year 2 or above bachelor program in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The inclusion criteria for parent-child-dyads include: (1) children who are aged 13 - 20, (2) children who have a parent who are willing to join with the child, and (3) parent-child dyads who are able to speak in Cantonese and write in Chinese. The outcome measures will cover demographic data, the knowledge about cannabis-related harm, the permissive attitude towards smoking cannabis and drugs trafficking.

Inclusion Criteria

• children who are aged 13 - 20
• children who have a parent who are willing to join with the child

Exclusion Criteria:

-parents and children who are not able to speak Cantonese and write in Chinese