Effect of Education on Promoting Preventive Behaviors of Oral and Dental Problems: Applying Health Belief Model

Aims Oral and dental problems are among the most common diseases in the world. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of an education program designed based on the health belief model on improving the behaviors preventing oral and dental problems in the 7th-grade students. Materials & Methods This semi-experimental study was conducted on 7th-grade female students in Qom in 2016. The samples were selected via multistage sampling method. Using the list of students, a total of 100 students were selected of each school. The participants were divided into two groups include the intervention and control groups, there were 50 people in each groups. Before the intervention, a standardized questionnaire based on the health belief model was distributed in both groups. Then the educational content which had been already prepared was presented to cases in five sessions via different methods. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, chi-square, paired t-test and SPSS 20 software. Findings After the intervention, the constructs of Knowledge (p<0.001), perceived susceptibility (p=0.001), perceived severity (p=0.01), perceived barriers (p=0.02), and perceived self-efficacy (p<0.001) had significantly changed in the intervention group, as compared with the time before the intervention. Conclusion Health belief model has an impact on student’s knowledge and perception of oral health and it can be used to increase students’ Knowledge and understanding in order to promote their oral and dental health.