Nutritional Preventive Behavior of Osteoporosis in Female Students: Applying Health Belief Model (HBM)

Background Osteoporosis is one of the most important health problems and it is of great importance to prevent this disease. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional preventive behavior of osteoporosis using health belief model in female students in Qom city, Iran. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional descriptive analytical study was conducted on 265 tenth to twelfth grade female students in Qom city. The subjects were selected via multistage sampling method. To collect data, we used a standard questionnaire based on health belief model. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20.0 using independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and ANOVA. Results Knowledge and perceived self-efficacy had a positive and significant relationship with nutritional preventive behavior of osteoporosis (P=0.04, r=0.12 and P=0.004, r=0.18, respectively). However, perceived susceptibility and perceived barriers had a negative and significant relationship with nutritional preventive behavior of osteoporosis (P=0.02, r=-0.14 and P<0.001, r=-0.27, respectively). Perceived severity and perceived benefits had no significant relationship with nutritional preventive behavior of osteoporosis (P=0.08, r=0.11 and P=0.22, r=0.07, respectively). Conclusion Health Belief Model is a helpful and efficient model for preventive behaviors. This method can be also utilized to design intervention programs to change osteoporosis preventive nutritional behaviors.