The Effect of Educational Intervention Based on Health Belief Model on Knowledge, Attitude and function of Women about Pap smear Test in AmolHealth Centers

Background and Aim : Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women and Pap test is themost effective strategy for preventing this cancer. Since the HBM model is a comprehensive model inpreventing diseases and it is based on motivating individuals and their function, this study aimed to examinethe effect of educational intervention using Health Belief Model on knowledge, attitude and function ofwomen about Pap test at Amol health centers.Methods : This semi-experimental controlled trial was conducted on 120 women who were divided intotwo groups of case and control, each including 60 participants. The training was provided in two sessionsfor 90 minutes, in the form of practical presentation, movie, lecture and question-answer, and women wereevaluated in two stages (before training and 2 months after training). Data gathering tool was a 4-partresearcher-made questionnaire including demographic characteristics (21 items), knowledge (23 items),HBM structures (34 items) and function (1 question). Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22 andusing Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Wilcoxon, linear regression, Mann-Whitney, Fisher, Chi-square and marginalhomogeneity tests.Results : The results of this study showed that there was no significant difference between the mean scoresof knowledge and the structures of HBM before the training in the case and control groups, but aftertraining, this difference was significant. The average scores of participants in terms of HBM structures wereincreased significantly after the training sessions. Also, comparison of the performance of pap smear beforetraining showed that in the case group (23.3%) and in the control group (31.7%) there was no significantdifference in term of the history of performing the Pap smear test (p=0.414). But a significant difference (pvalue = 0.001) was observed after training in the case group (31.7%) and in the control group (3. 3%).Conclusion : Educational intervention using Health Belief Model is effective in increasing knowledge,attitude and function of women in terms of providing useful and required education.

Keywords:

Attitude , Health Belief Model , Knowledge , Pap smear , Performance