THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LEAFLET MEDIA AS A HEALTH EDUCATION EFFORT IN ELIMINATING TUBERCULOSIS IN SIMALUNGUN REGENCY

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that remains a public health problem in Indonesia. Health education plays a vital role in increasing patient understanding and awareness of TB prevention and control. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of leaflets as an educational tool for improving knowledge, attitudes, and actions of TB patients. The study used a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest with a control group design. The study population was all TB patients in the Tapian Dolok and Batu Anam areas. The sample size was 100 people, consisting of 50 respondents from the intervention group in Tapian Dolok and 50 respondents from the control group in Batu Anam, selected by purposive sampling. The research instrument was a questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes, and actions that had been tested for validity and reliability. Data analysis was performed using a paired t-test with a significance level of 0.05. The results showed a significant increase in respondents' knowledge, attitudes, and actions after being given education through leaflets in the intervention group (p<0.05). In contrast, the control group showed no significant changes. Thus, leaflets have proven effective as a health education tool in improving the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of TB patients. The results of this study can serve as a basis for healthcare workers in developing effective communication strategies to empower TB patients.