Document Type : Original Research
Authors
1
Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
2
Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
10.58209/hehp.14.3.519
Abstract
Aims: This study examined whether health belief model -based education was associated with sustained self-reported protective behaviors during dust storms among primary school teachers.
Materials & Methods: In this cluster-sampled quasi-experimental study, 30 primary schools were randomly selected and allocated to intervention and control groups (15 schools per group). All eligible teachers at the selected schools were invited to participate; 242 teachers enrolled (121 per group; an average of 8 teachers per school). The intervention consisted of four 60-minute health belief model-based sessions. Data were collected at pretest, immediately postintervention, and the three-month follow-up using a validated questionnaire. Repeated-measures ANOVA was also reported for comparability.
Findings: No significant baseline differences were observed. Significant group×time interactions were found for all outcomes (p<0.001 in both the mixed-effects and repeated-measures models): knowledge (F=156.42, η²p=0.395), perceived susceptibility (F=89.67, η²p=0.273), perceived severity (F=72.34, η²p=0.232), perceived benefits (F=28.91, η²p=0.108), perceived barriers (F=18.45, η²p=0.072), self-efficacy (F=94.23, η²p=0.283), and protective behaviors (F=112.56, η²p=0.320). The intervention group improved immediately after the intervention and at the three-month follow-up; the control group showed no significant changes. At follow-up, the most frequently reported cues were radio and television (50.4%), feeling healthier when staying indoors (64.5%), general good health (38.0%), physicians and other health care personnel (33.9%), and fear of health complications (28.9%).
Conclusion: Health belief model-based education is associated with sustained improvements in teachers’ knowledge, health beliefs, and self-reported protective behaviors over three months.
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