Effect of training based on health belief model and behavioral intention on improving dental and oral self-care behavior in 9-12-year-old Iranian female students

Fatemeh Mohammadkhah; Ali Ramezankhani; Abolfazl Atashpoosh; Farzaneh Ahmady Moghadam; Maryam Bakhtiar; Ali Khani Jeihooni

doi:10.1186/s12903-022-02552-0

Effect of training based on health belief model and behavioral intention on improving dental and oral self-care behavior in 9-12-year-old Iranian female students

BMC Oral Health. 2022 Nov 19;22(1):515. doi: 10.1186/s12903-022-02552-0.

Authors

Fatemeh Mohammadkhah¹, Ali Ramezankhani², Abolfazl Atashpoosh³, Farzaneh Ahmady Moghadam⁴, Maryam Bakhtiar⁵, Ali Khani Jeihooni⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Community Health, Child Nursing and Aging, Ramsar School of Nursing, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
² Department of Public Health, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Department of Psychology, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch, Rasht, Iran.
⁵ Department of Dental Public Health, School of Dental, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
⁶ Department of Public Health, School of Health, Nutrition Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Khani_1512@yahoo.com.

Abstract

Background: Training dental and oral health behaviors by using appropriate training models and theories is an important issue in preventing dental and oral diseases. the present study aimed to investigate the effect of training based on the health belief model and behavioral intention on dental and oral health behaviors in female students aged 9-12 years old in the city of Rudsar, Guilan, Iran.

Methods: This research is an interventional study conducted on 84 female students aged 9-12 years old, who lived in the city of Rudsar (n = 42 in the control group and n = 42 in the interventional group) in 2019. The data collection tools included questions on demographic variables, structures of the health belief model (perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, perceived barriers and benefits, self-efficiency), behavioral intention, and performance. The questionnaire was completed before the intervention and 3 months after it by both groups. The intervention group received four 45-min sessions. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24, descriptive tests, independent sample t-test, pair sample t-test, and regression (P < 0.05).

Results: The mean age of the intervention and control groups was 10.88 ± 1.01 and 10.80 ± 1.01, respectively. The results showed that the average scores of all structures of the health belief model and behavioral intention in the intervention group significantly changed compared to the average scores obtained before the intervention (P < 0.05). Moreover, the average scores of perceived sensitivity (p < 0.009), perceived barriers (p < 0.007), self-efficiency (p < 0.001), and behavioral intention (p < 0.001) significantly changed after the intervention in both groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: According to the results, the health belief model and the behavioral intention were effective in improving dental and oral health so that they can be applied to improving people's dental and oral health. It can also be used as a model to design, implement, and monitor medical health programs.

Keywords: Behavior; Dental; Health Belief Model; Health Education; Health-Related Behaviors; Self-care; Students; Women.

MeSH terms

Child
Female
Health Belief Model
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Intention*
Iran
Self Care*
Students