J Prev Med Public Health.  2020 Jul;53(4):275-284. 10.3961/jpmph.20.095.

Educational Intervention Based on the Health Belief Model to Modify Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease in Police Officers in Iran: A Quasi-experimental Study

Affiliations
  • 1Health Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran
  • 2Health Education Department, Faculty of Health, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • 3Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • 4Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
  • 5Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • 6School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
  • 7Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
  • 8Department of Nursing, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden

Abstract


Objectives
Police officers may be at a greater risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) than the general population due to their highstress occupation. This study evaluated how an educational program based on the health belief model (HBM) may protect police officers from developing CVD.
Methods
In this single-group experimental study, 58 police officers in Iran participated in a 5-week intervention based on HBM principles. Outcomes included changes in scores on an HBM scale, time spent on moderate to vigorous physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), body mass index (BMI), blood lipid profile, blood glucose, and blood pressure. The intervention consisted of 5 HBM-based educational sessions. Follow-up was conducted at 3 months post-intervention. The paired t-test was used to examine differences between baseline and follow-up scores.
Results
All aspects of the HBM scale improved between baseline and follow-up (p<0.05), except the cues to action subscale. Self-efficacy and preventive behaviors improved the most. BMI decreased from 26.7±2.9 kg/m2 at baseline to 25.8±2.4 kg/m2 at follow-up. All components of the lipid profile, including triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein, showed significant improvements post-intervention. Blood glucose and blood pressure also decreased, but not significantly. Nearly 25% of participants who were not physically active at baseline increased their physical activity above or beyond the healthy threshold.
Conclusions
A relatively brief educational intervention based on HBM principles led to a significant improvement in CVD risk factors among police officers. Further research is needed to corroborate the effectiveness of this intervention.

Keyword

Health education; Lifestyle; Cardiovascular disease; Behavior change; Risk factors; Iran
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