Evaluation of the Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19 Patients and Related Factors based on Health Belief Model of the Residents of North Khorasan Province

Considering that behaviors can be explained based on different theories, one of the most important theories in choosing health behaviors is the Health belief model. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the preventive behaviors regarding corona disease and its related factors based on the health belief model.

The study utilized a cross-sectional study (descriptive-analytical). Web-based sampling methods were used in this study. The sample size was estimated at 2240 samples. Data collection tools included a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman correlation coefficient tests using SPSS 23. Moreover, the coefficient at a significance level less than 0.05.

There was a significant correlation between age with all constructs of the health belief model in terms of preventive behaviors from COVID-19, gender with all constructs except perceived benefits, education with all constructs except the perceived barriers and performance, and occupation with all constructs except perceived sensitivity (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between perceived benefits and perceived barriers and between perceived barriers and performance. There was a positive and significant correlation between performance score with knowledge (p<0.001, r=0.102) and perceived benefits (p<0.001, r=0.066).

The results showed that the most source of information for people is social networks and the most trusted source of information is a television program. Variables of age group, education, and occupation had the greatest effect on the constructs of the health belief model, and it is suggested that more attention be paid to the elderly, low-educated people, and non-employed occupational groups.