Hajj Pilgrimage as an opportunity to transform health-related beliefs and lifestyle

In this study، at first a review is made of developments in theories of human behavioral change، and then views are presented on causes of humans changing their health related lifestyle. Also reference is made to the minimum and desirable time durations that are said to be important for changes in humans to actually take place and to be sustained. Then descriptions are made of the characteristics of Hajj pilgrimage. As an obligatory for every capable Muslim once in a lifetime، this ritual is said to have the specifications of timeperiod previously mentioned to be required for a successful behavior change، in terms of both its duration of almost 40 days and its creation of a very different lifestyle environment for the pilgrim who is far from normal family and friend surrounding. 24-hours a day and close interactions with completely new people and strangers in small hotel rooms، restaurants، buses and inside the holy mosques enable the pilgrims to overcome the usual barriers to change in knowledge، attitude and practices. It is then concluded that due to the large population of pilgrims that annually do the Hajj، this ritual has the potential not only to change directly the people and professional who observe this obligation، but also to transform indirectly many other relatives who interact with them. Therefore، policy makers in Iran can exploit this opportunity and make the necessary changes، at national level، in medical education and practices as well as in health-related lifestyle and education. This in turn will lead to more appropriate، effective and efficient delivery of disease preventive، health promotional، diagnostic، curative، surgical، palliative and rehabilitative services during Hajj and beyond