The influence of theatre for social change performance on knowledge, retention, and smoking intention: A theory of planned behaviour approach in adolescents (12–15 years old) — case study of a state junior high school in Makassar

Adolescent smoking in Indonesia, including Makassar City (ages 12–15), contributes to the projected rise of adult smokers. Theatre for Social Change (TFSC) is an art-based health promotion method addressing smoking behaviour using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). This quantitative, quasi-experimental study applied a pretest–post test design without control, involving 200 respondents before intervention and 186 after, with short-term retention measured later. Data were collected via questionnaires, focus group discussions, and observations, and analysed using chi-square, paired t-test, and logistic regression. Results showed a significant increase in knowledge immediately after intervention (p < 0.005), but no difference between short-term post-tests (p = 0.966). Significant effects (p < 0.005) were found in TPB variables: Attitude, Perceived Behavioural Control, Subjective Norm, Behavioural Belief, Normative Belief, Control Belief, and Intention. TFSC effectively delivers anti-smoking messages, sustaining knowledge for up to seven days.