Effects of an educational intervention based on planned behavior theory in promoting safe behaviors crossing the street in students

Pedestrian injuries are a significant source of mortality and disability among children and Prevention of it requires educational strategies and comprehensive approaches. This study was done to determine The effect of health education based on Planned Behavior Theory (TPB) in promotion of safe Behaviors in crossing the road among students, who are in four-grade in the primary school in Tehran City, in 2010-2011. In this experimental study, 160 students (80 girls and 80 boys) were selected randomly from among schools of Districts 4 of Tehran and were categorized in two group of experimental and control, 80 in each group. After need assessment based on planned behavior theory, suitable educational intervention was designed and implemented for the experimental group. The data were collected by the questionnaire. Two groups were followed-up two-month after completion of intervention. Finally data collected and analyzed by SPSS16 software. There were no significant differences in demographic factors and constructs of model between the two groups before intervention. Significant differences were observed in behavioral intention(P<0/0001), perceived power(P<0/0001), control beliefs(P<0/0001), perceived behavioral control(P<0/0001), motivation comply(P<0/0001), normative beliefs(P<0/0001), outcome evaluation(P<0/0001), behavioral beliefs(P<0/0001), and safe behaviors of crossing the road (P<0/0001) between the two groups after intervention. Our findings showed that educational intervention based on planned behavior theory can be an effective method in promotion of safe Behaviors in crossing the road in students.