Differences in Earthquake Preparedness Knowledge and Attitudes After Sticker Media Among Padang Health Polytechnic Students

Abstract

 Indonesia lies at the junction of three active tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes, including the magnitude 7.6 event that struck West Sumatra in 2009. Students need adequate preparedness knowledge and attitudes to act as agents of disaster preparedness. This study examined differences in earthquake preparedness knowledge and attitudes among Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Padang students after exposure to sticker media. Methods: A mixed-methods design was used, with a quasi-experimental one-group pre-post test as the primary component and in-depth interviews as the secondary component. From a population of 850 students, 85 were selected by proportional random sampling. Knowledge and attitudes were measured with 10-item questionnaires before and after the stickers were sent twice via WhatsApp. Three informants were interviewed to guide the sticker design. Data were analyzed with a paired t-test. Results: Mean knowledge increased from 6.66 to 8.92 and mean attitude increased from 33.9 to 42.8 (both p<0.001). Informants recommended content based on self-rescue procedures, bright colors (orange and green), and placement on classroom doors or walls. Conclusion: Knowledge and attitudes differed significantly before and after the sticker media. Sticker media can be considered an information channel for earthquake preparedness on campus; further studies with a control group are needed.