The Effect of Educational Intervention Based on The Health Belief Model on using vitamin D Supplements Among Female High School Students in Mashhad

Teenage girls are one of the high-risk groups for vitamin D deficiency. This study aimed to determine the effect of an educational intervention based on the health belief model on the use of vitamin D supplements among female high school students. In this quasi-experimental study, 140 girl high school students (n=70 in each group) in Mashhad in the academic year 2015-2016 participated. The research tools included a demographic information questionnaire and a researcher made questionnaire of knowledge and the HBM constructs regarding the use of vitamin D supplements. After collecting pre-test data, the educational intervention was implemented for students in the test group and the post-tests were carried out immediately and three months after intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software v19 and applying appropriate statistical tests. Before the study there were no significant differences in all variables and constructs. But after the educational intervntion a significant difference was reported between the intervntion and control group concerning knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefit (P<0.001), perceived barrier (P=0.001), self-efficacy and use of vitamin D supplements (P<0.001). The results in the test group showed that the average scores of knowledge, all health belief models’ components and use of vitamin D supplements before, immediately and three months after the intervention were significantly different (P<0.001). Health education programs based on the health belief model can be useful in promoting health awareness and use of vitamin D supplements.