The Effect of Educational Intervention Based on Self-efficacy Theory on General Health Status of Women in Chaloos, Iran

Background: Self-efficacy is one of the factors which is effective on promoting general health. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of an educational intervention based on self-efficacy theory on general health status of women. Methods: The study is an interventional study carried out on 130 women visiting a health center who were randomly divided into experimental and control groups of 65 people. The data collection instruments were the standard General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and standard Self-efficacy questionnaire (GSE). The educational intervention was designed based on the results from the initial test and the self-efficacy theory and was performed in two educational sessions lasting 60 and 55 minutes by group discussion, short lecture, questions and answers, demonstration, guidance, consultation and pamphlet. One month after the intervention, post tests were done. Data were analyzed and compared in SPSS 19 software by chi square, Correlation Co-efficient, Independent T and Exact Fisher tests. Results: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the mean of general health; self-efficacy and general health dimension scores between groups. But there were significant differences after intervention (respectively P=0.0001, P=0.045 and P=0.0001). There were significant inverse correlations between general health and self-efficacy and self-efficacy and number of children, but direct correlations between general health and number of children, after intervention. Conclusion: In designing interventions for improving women’s general health it is better to focus on their self-efficacy. Keywords: General health, Self-efficacy, Women, Educational interventio