Effect of Health Belief Model based education on health literacy and smoking prevention among students

Abstract Background and Aim: Given the increasing trend of smoking among students and considering the potential of Health Belief Model (HBM) in predicting Health Literacy (HL) and smoking prevention as well as the role of HL in smoking prevention, this study aimed to determine the effect of HBM based education on HL and smoking prevention among students. Materials and Methods: The present work is a quasi-experimental interventional study that was conducted in 2017 among 120 non-smoking students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran (60 in each intervention and control group). Data gathering tool was a valid and reliable questionnaire based on the constructs of perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy from the HBM, smoking preventive behaviors and the HL Assessment Questionnaire (HELIA) completed in two stages before and 6 months after the education. The collected data were analyzed using proportional tests and SPSS software version 18. All stages of the study were conducted according to moral standards. Results: There was no significant difference between demographic and background variables. The mean scores of perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits and self-efficacy, HL and preventive behaviors did not show any significant difference between both groups before the intervention (p>0.05). Following intervention, however, the mean scores of perceived susceptibility, benefits and self-efficacy, HL and preventive behaviors have changed significantly in experimental group as compared to control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Education based on constructs of perceived susceptibility, benefits, and self-efficacy could be effective in promoting HL and thus smoking prevention among non-smoker students. Keywords: Health Belief Model, Education, Health Literacy, Prevention, Smoking, Student

اتخاذ رفتارهای پیشگیری کننده از مصرف سیگار و عوامل مرتبط با آن در دانشجویان خوابگاهی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهید بهشتی تهران در سال 1395

Background and Aims: One of the priorities of public health to reduce smoking is to prevent young people from smoking. Considering the role of the model of medical students in the society and due to the increasing smoking among them, the aim of this study was to assess the adoption of smoking preventive behaviors and its related factors among university students. Materials and methods: In this descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study, 355 dormitory students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, were selected by single-stage cluster sampling method and entered the study, in 2016. Data were collected using a questionnaire including demographic and background information and a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire for measuring the adoption of smoking preventive behaviors. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16 and descriptive statistics, independent t-test and ANOVA. All stages of the study were conducted according to moral standards. Results: The mean (standard deviation) score of smoking preventive behaviors adoption was 39.01(19.96) out of 100 demonstrating a weak level. The adoption of smoking preventive behavior were significantly related with gender, having smokers' friends, having a smoker in the family, father's education level and smoking variables (P<0.05). Conclusion: Due to the low mean score of adoption of smoking preventive behaviors among university students, it is necessary to carry out necessary education regarding smoking prevention among them.زمینه و اهداف: یکی از اولویت­های سلامت همگانی برای کاهش مصرف سیگار، پیشگیری از سیگاری شدن جوانان است. با توجه به نقش الگویی دانشجویان علوم پزشکی در جامعه و نظر به افزایش استعمال سیگار در میان آن­ها، این مطالعه با هدف سنجش اتخاذ رفتارهای پیشگیری کننده از مصرف سیگار و عوامل مرتبط با آن در بین دانشجویان اجرا شد. مواد و روش‌ها: در این مطالعه مقطعی که با رویکرد توصیفی- تحلیلی انجام شد، 355  نفر از دانشجویان خوابگاهی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهید بهشتی تهران در سال 1395 و با استفاده از روش نمونه­گیری خوشه­ای یک مرحله­ای انتخاب و وارد مطالعه شدند. داده­ها با استفاده از پرسشنامه­ای مشتمل بر اطلاعات جمعیت­شناختی و زمینه­ای و یک پرسشنامه محقق­ساخته روا و پایا جهت سنجش اتخاذ رفتارهای پیشگیری کننده از مصرف سیگار، گردآوری شد. داده­های گردآوری شده با استفاده از نرم افزار SPSS نسخه 16 و آمارهای توصیفی و آزمون­های تی­مستقل و آنالیز واریانس مورد تحلیل قرار گرفتند. تمامی مراحل مطالعه حاضر طبق موازین اخلاقی اجرا گردید. یافته‌ها: میانگین (انحراف معیار) نمره اتخاذ رفتارهای پیشگیری کننده از مصرف سیگار (96/19) 01/39 از 100 بوده و در سطح ضعیفی قرار داشت. اتخاذ رفتارهای پیشگیری کننده از مصرف سیگار با متغیرهای جنسیت، داشتن دوستان سیگاری، داشتن عضو سیگاری در خانواده، سطح تحصیلات پدر و مصرف سیگار ارتباط معنی­دار داشت (05/0>P).  نتیجه‌گیری: با توجه به پایین بودن میانگین نمره اتخاذ رفتارهای پیشگیری­کننده از مصرف سیگار در دانشجویان، ضرورت اجرای آموزش‌های لازم در مورد پیشگیری از مصرف سیگار در میان آنها بیش از پیش احساس می‌شود. &nbsp

Measuring the Structures of the Health Belief Model Integrated with Health Literacy in Predicting University Students’ Adoption of Smoking Preventive Behaviors

Objective(s): One of the priorities of public health in reducing smoking is to prevent young people from becoming smokers. Health literacy (HL), smoking, and preventive behaviors are related. Moreover, HL has a potential impact on strengthening the Health Belief Model (HBM). Considering the high prevalence of smoking among university students, the current study was conducted to measure the structures of the HBM integrated with HL in predicting university students’ adoption of smoking preventive behaviors.     Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Three hundred and forty dormitory students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2016, were selected through single-stage cluster sampling for the study. The data gathering tool was a researcher-made questionnaire based on the HBM and the HL inventory for adults (HELIA). The data were analyzed using SPSS software version.16, descriptive statistical, Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple regression and independent T-test. Results: The multiple regression analysis showed that the application of health information from five dimensions of HL, perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, and decision-making dimensions were the predictors of smoking prevention. Also, the structures of this integrated model were able to anticipate 36.5% of the behavioral changes. Conclusion: The HBM integrated with HL can be used as an appropriate framework for designing educational programs in order to encourage university students to adopt smoking preventive behaviors

The Relationship between Different Levels of Health Literacy and Smoking Prevention Among Medical Sciences Student

Background: Higher rates of Smoking among university students have been reported in various studies. On the other hand, health literacy (HL) can improve health behaviors. In fact, identifying factors affecting the adoption of smoking preventive behaviors such as HL can help prevent and reduce the prevalence of smoking among people. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between different levels of HL and adoption of smoking preventive behaviors among university student in 2016. Methods: This was a cross‑sectional descriptive study. Three hundred and forty‑seven dormitory students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Iran were selected through single‑stage cluster sampling for the study. Data were collected using a measure of HL (the HL inventory for adults‑HELIA) and a designed questionnaire to assess the adoption of smoking preventive behaviors. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version. 16 and descriptive statistical and Logistic regression test. Results: The mean (SD) of the score for adoption of smoking preventive behaviors and HL were 45.91 (12.99) and 70.52 (14.12) out of 100, respectively. The results showed that the adoption of smoking preventive behaviors had significant relationship with variables such as HL, gender, father’s education and not smoking (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Less adoption of smoking preventive behaviors was seen in students with lower levels of HL, female students, students with illiterate fathers and smokers. Therefore, it seems essential to take these factors into consideration in designing preventive programs for smoking in target groups