Application of Theory of Planned Behavior in Predicting Intention and Action of Preventing Tobacco Use among Students of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences

Adolescents and youth are the most vulnerable groups concerning tobacco use. The present study was performed to determine predictors of intention and preventive behaviors of tobacco use among students based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) constructs.
An analytic, cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 students of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences in 2013. Stratified sampling was used to select the participants. In order to collect the data, a validated and reliable questionnaire was designed based on the TPB. Participants fill out the questionnaire in a self-reporting form. Data were entered in SPSS 20 and analyzed by descriptive and analytic statistics, Spearman’s correlation coefficient and logistic regression model.
The students’ attitude and perceived behavioral control predicted 41% of the variations of their behavioral intention. Meanwhile, the perceived behavioral control could predict 32% of the participants’ behavioral variation. There were significant correlations between the participants’ attitude and their behavioral intention, the participants’ perceived behavioral control and their behavioral intention, as well as between perceived behavioral control of the students and their behavior of tobacco use (p The students’ perceived behavioral control would be a strong predictor for their intention to use tobacco and the students’ preventative performance of tobacco use.