The Effect of Educational Intervention on Health Literacy and Adoption of Smoking Preventive Behaviors among University Students

Considering the increase in smoking among University students and the effect of health literacy on the adoption of preventive behaviors, this study aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention on health literacy and adoption of smoking preventive behaviors among students. The present study was a quasi-experimental interventional study that was conducted in 2016 and among dormitory students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran. In this study, 130 students (65 in each intervention and control group), were selected using random Multi-Stages sampling method and entered the study. Educational intervention was performed using telegram application and educational messages were sent to the students of the intervention group in 6 sessions. The data gathering tool was demographic and background characteristics questionnaire, Health Literacy questionnaire (HELIA) and smoking preventive behavior questionnaire, which was completed in three stages before, immediately and three months after the intervention. The data were collected and were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between demographic and background variables, underlying level of Health literacy and adoption of preventive behaviors, in both groups (P>0.05). After the intervention, comparing two groups showed that the mean scores of Health literacy and adoption of smoking preventive behaviors, have increased significantly in experimental group compared to control group (P<0.05). Educational intervention through Telegram application was effective in promoting Health literacy and the adoption of smoking preventive behaviors among university students.