Effectiveness of an information-motivation-behavioural skills model-based education kit (PREM-Kit) on human immunodeficiency virus knowledge and attitude among Malaysian late adolescents

The increasing incidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among Malaysian late adolescents, coupled with insufficient HIV knowledge, necessitates immediate attention to HIV prevention via education. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a new Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills (IMB) model-based education kit (PREM-Kit) in improving knowledge and attitudes related to HIV among Malaysian late adolescents. A 16-week quasi-experimental trial was conducted at two campuses of a local public university, involving 187 participants. The intervention group received PREM-Kit's intervention in addition to the curriculum-mandated basic science and biology module, whereas the control group received only the curriculum-mandated basic science and biology module. Repeated measure analysis of variance (RMANOVA) and covariance (RMANCOVA) were used to examine the effectiveness of PREM-Kit's intervention on knowledge and attitudes between groups at four time points (t0-t3). The intervention group exhibited a significant increase in the knowledge score (mean difference = 2.66; 95% CI = 2.22,3.10; p < 0.001) and attitude score (mean difference = 2.74; 95% CI = 1.90,3.59; p < 0.001), which was sustained throughout the 16-week study period. In conclusion, PREM-Kit was effective in improving late adolescents' knowledge and attitudes related to HIV prevention. It has the potential to be a beneficial package for educating and empowering late adolescents on HIV prevention.