Effect of a Training Intervention Program Designed Based on Health Belief Model on Adopting Behaviors Preventing Dental Caries in Students

Dental caries is one of the most common diseases among children and adolescents, which are highly preventable. The present study aimed to determine the effects of a training intervention program based on health belief model on adopting behaviors preventing dental caries in students. This semi-experimental study was conducted on 120 fifth-grade elementary school students in Sanandaj. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect the required data including demographic information and data on the constructs of the health belief model. After random assignment of the participants into control and intervention groups (60 student in each group) the primary data were collected. Then, the training intervention was performed for the intervention group. Eight weeks after the intervention, the secondary set of data were collected. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS 22. Independent t-test, paired t-test, and ANCOVA were used to analyze the data. The results showed no significant difference between intervention and control groups in terms of most of the constructs of the model, including perceived susceptibility (P=0.06), perceived severity (P=0.7), perceived benefits (P =0.6), self-efficacy (P =0.8), and cues to action (P =0.08). Although there was a significant difference between the two groups only in terms of perceived barriers (P=0.001), the results of ANCOVAs showed no significant difference between two groups in terms of the mean scores of the constructs of the model. Our finding showed that training students in elementary schools alone cannot play a significant role in adopting preventive behaviors. Hence, along with the design of new interventions, it is necessary to have parents, health instructors, and teachers to cooperate in health care programs to improve the adoption of dental and oral health strategies by students.