The effect of theory - Based educational intervention on consumption of smokeless tobacco products by merchants' guilds

Smokeless tobacco (SLT) products are highly addictive and contain at least 28 carcinogenic chemicals. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of theory‑based on the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change on consumption of SLT products by Merchants’ Guilds in 2018.

The present quasi‑experimental research was conducted over one intervention group. The research population consisted of all consumers of the SLT products among the merchants’ guilds in Chabahar City, Iran in 2018. Data were gathered from 320 individuals by simple random sampling using a valid and reliable researcher‑made questionnaire. The intervention program was designed based on the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change cognitive processes and lasted 6 months. After the intervention, the same questionnaires were administered among the participants. The data were analyzed by SPSS version20 using the descriptive and analytical tests.

In the preintervention phase, the participants’ mean scores of the cognitive processes at the precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation stages were 29.16 ± 4.63, 25.07 ± 3.84, and 12.12 ± 1.63, respectively. At the postintervention phase, mean scores of the precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation stages reached to 40.5 ± 5.96, 38.8 ± 5.03, and 35.5 ± 4.23, respectively. Furthermore, the participants’ mean sores at the action and maintenance stages were 36.4 ± 4.57 and 43.3 ± 3.29, respectively. According to the ANOVA, a significant relationship was found between cognitive processes at the preintervention phase and stages of change (P < 0.001).

Individuals can improve from the precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation phases to the action and maintenance stages by attending based on Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change educational interventions. It is suggested that the structure of this model be used to reduce high‑risk behaviors in other occupations.