Effect of the Educational Program Based on the Extended Parallel Process Model in Adopting Preventive Behaviors Against Covid-19

Considering the global spread of the coronavirus and its adverse consequences, adoption of preventive behavior stratgies is a suitable solution to reduce the sequelae by this disease. Considering the effectiveness of the developed parallel process model in changing behavior, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the extended parallel process model on adoption of preventive behavior aginst coronavirus infection in young women.

This intervention (experimental) study was conducted in 2022. Using a multi-stage sampling method 222 young women were entered into the study. Data were collected using a researcher's questionnaire based on the extended parallel process model. The educational intervention was performed through 4 virtual sessions. Three months after the last session, the participants completed the questionnaire again. Using SPSS software version 26,  data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistical tests.

The results of the study showed that after the educational intervention, the mean scores of the model and behavior structures showed a significant difference between the two test and control groups (P<0.05). Before the training, 4.5% of the participants of the intervention group were in the risk control process, and after the training intervention, this figured reached 20.7%, which was statistically significant. After the educational intervention we found significant difference between the control and intervention groups in terms of the risk control process or fear control process (P=0.049).

Use of the developed parallel process model is effective in adopting preventive behaviors against the coronavirus in young women.