Abstract
Background and Objectives: Injuries constitute a major health problem throughout the world. School injuries are among the main injuries in young and school-aged children. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of an educational program based on the Health Belief Model for the prevention of school injuries among junior high school students in Famenin.
Materials and Methods: The present experimental study was conducted on male and female students in junior high schools of Famenin in Hamadan, Iran, from March to May 2014. A total of 144 students were randomly selected for participation in the study and then divided into an intervention group and a control group. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire with items on the students' demographic information and their knowledge, practices and the Health Belief Model constructs. The present study included a pre-test and a post-test in two groups and a five-session educational intervention with an educational booklet for the intervention group. Data were analyzed using the independent and the paired t-tests and the chi-square test.
Results: After the educational intervention and based on the Health Belief Model, the mean scores obtained by the students for knowledge, practice, perceived susceptibility, cues to action and self-efficacy were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (P<0.001), while the mean score obtained for perceived barriers had decreased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that an educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model can improve the students' practices in the prevention of school injuries.