Effectiveness of a Web-based Educational Intervention according to the Health Belief Model in Improving Type-2 Diabetes Preventive Behaviors and Blood Sugar Control in Pre-Diabetic Patients in Bushehr

This study aimed to determine the effect of a web-based educational intervention according to the Health Belief Model (HBM) on adherence to preventive behaviors of type-2 diabetes (nutrition and physical activity) and blood sugar control in pre-diabetic patients in Bushehr.

This quasi-experimental study with two intervention and control groups encompassed 92 pre-diabetic patients in Comprehensive Health Service Centers affiliated with the Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, who were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received multimedia training based on the HBM constructs from a specific web-based platform. The collected data were collected using a specific questionnaire before, two weeks after, and three months after the intervention. Blood glucose was also assessed using laboratory tests before and three months after the intervention. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS software version 24.

According to the results, there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of Knowledge (p<0.001) and health belief model constructs including perceived sensitivity (p<0.001), perceived intensity (p<0.001), self-efficacy (p<0.001) ,and the perceived benefits (p<0.001) during the research period . Accordingly, the mean score of knowledge and all constructs in the intervention group increased significantly, and the perceived barriers decreased significantly. Moreover, after the educational intervention in the intervention group, their adherence to diabetes preventive behaviors (physical activity and nutrition) improved (p<0.001), and their fasting blood sugar level decreased (p<0.001).

The findings revealed that educational intervention based on the HBM and multimedia on the web is effective in improving healthy behaviors and lowering blood sugar in pre-diabetic patients. Accordingly, the use of these strategies during the treatment and blood sugar control programs in prediabetic patients is recommended .