Educational Intervention Based on BASNEFE Model on Life Style, Awareness and Preventive Behaviors of Cancer in Female in Rasht

One of the most common diseases is cancer. Cancer refers to a set of diseases that occurs through unprotected cell proliferation. The exact cause of this phenomenon is unclear, but genetic factors or cases that can interfere with the cell's activity are likely to occur in the cell nucleus. Researchers have emphasized the importance of preventive education. Many health problems, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, types of cancers and addiction present in most developing countries, are somehow associated with changes in the lifestyle of those societies. In fact, it is better the treatment of early prevention and early detection, the easier and less costly treatment. In fact, the best way to reduce the therapeutic profile of patients with severe illness is to transfer costs from the treatment to the prevention phase. Health education is the most effective method to deal with this problem. One of the most important health education models is the Basnefe model, which relates to awareness and thinking. Studies have shown that health education can enhance awareness and lifestyle to prevent cancer. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of educational intervention based on the Basnefe model on lifestyle, awareness and preventive behaviors of cancer in women in Rasht.

The present study was a semi–experimental research with pretest–posttest design and control group. This study was performed on women in Rasht city (North of Iran) in 2018. A total of 80 volunteers were selected (mean age: 36.42), and they randomly were assigned in the control group (n=40) and in the experimental group (n=40). To collect information, three questionnaires of awareness (including 10 questions, researcher made), Miller and Smith's lifestyle (including 20 questions) and preventive behaviors (including 10 questions, researcher made) were used. Groups first completed questionnaires. Then, for the experimental group, eight sessions of cancer prevention training were performed based on the Basnefe model. After the training period, the questionnaires were completed by the two groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS–22 software and ANCOVA.

Descriptive findings showed that the mean level of awareness in the experimental group in the pre–test stage increases from 10.18 to 14.25 in comparison with the post–test. In addition, the mean of lifestyle in the experimental group in the pre–test phase compared to the post–test decreased from 61.12 to 54.70, and the mean of preventive behaviors in the experimental group in the pre–test stage was from 23.87 to 28.58 that it has increased. The results of ANCOVA showed that the Basnefe model's educational intervention had a significant effect on lifestyle, awareness and preventive behaviors of cancer in women (p<0.001).

The results of this study revealed that the education program based on the Basnefe model was an effective method in raising awareness, improving lifestyle and promoting preventive behaviors of cancer in women.