Promotion of Preventive Behaviors of Cardiovascular Diseases Using Health Belief Model in Women Referring to Health Centers in Qom, Iran

Background and Objectives: The increasing trend of non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular disease in Iranian women, reveals the need for preventive educational interventions. This study aimed to promote preventive behaviors of cardiovascular diseases using Health Belief Model in women referring to health centers in Qom city. Methods: In this intervention, 80 women referred to health centers in Qom city, were assigned to two groups of experimental and control. Sampling was performed using cluster sampling method. The intervention consisted of 6 training sessions in the experimental group. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire before and 3 months after the intervention. Data analysis was carried out using independent and paired t-tests. Results: The mean age of the participants was 26.91&plusmn;6.90. Three months after the education intervention, the mean score of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, self-efficacy, cues to action and preventive behaviors of cardiovascular disease showed a significant increase in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Also, the mean score of perceived barriers significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.01). Conclusion: Educational interventions play an important role in the promotion of preventive behaviors of cardiovascular disease in women and can help to reduce the incidence of disease