The Effect of an Educational Intervention Based on Health Belief Model on the Standard Precautions among Medical Students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

Needle stick injuries are the most common kind of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids. Obeying the standard precautions decrease the risk of injuries. This study assessed the effect of educational intervention based on Health Belief Model on the behavior associated with standard precautions among medical student’s of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences. This was a case-control interventional study. Study population was consisted of 117 medical students of Fourth to seventh- year who were randomly assigned to two intervention groups; case group (n=57) and control. Data were collected using a questionnaire made by researcher and were analyzed by statistical of Paired and independent t tests using SPSS (18th edition). The results showed that 80.8 Percent of students had no history of previous training on standard precautions.15.5 Percent had experienced injuries with needles and sharp objects (Needle Stick), and 13.5 Percent of them had a history of contact with patients’ secretions. The intervention in the case group, regarding the standard precautions, increased statistically significant the mean of structures of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, self- efficacy and behavior. Despite the increase in the score of cues to action and reduction in the score of perceived barriers, changes were not significant the result showed that educational intervention is e ffective in conducting healthy behavior and has been compatible with the Health Belief Model. Continuous education regarding precaution standards is recommended for medical students.