The effect of a puppet presentation to teenagers on attitudes and family communication regarding organ donation

In this quasi-experimental design study an intervention of an interactive puppet program (Kids on the Block) was used to examine the effect it has on initiating and stimulating conversation about organ donation within families. It was also used to see if attitudes and knowledge of organ donation could be modified. The sample population was from driver's education classes in five high schools in Knox County, Tennessee (4 public; 1 private religious). A total of 314 students between the ages of 15 and 17 (n_control = 145; n_experimental = 169) participated. A pre- and posttest were administered with the Kids on the Block" - Darryl's Gift" being the intervention. All groups were given the Tennessee Department of Safety handout, "Give Life to Your License." The results sowed that the experimental group had a significant increase in the number of students who talked to their families about organ donation (29% vs. 13.8%). Also students receiving the intervention differed significantly in attitude and knowledge change scores from the pre- and posttests.