An instrument based on protection motivation theory to predict Chinese adolescents’ intention to engage in protective behaviors against schistosomiasis

Abstract

BackgroundFurther advancement in schistosomiasis prevention requires new tools to assess protective motivation, and promote innovative intervention program. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an instrument developed based on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to predict protective behavior intention against schistosomiasis among adolescents in China.MethodsWe developed the Schistosomiasis PMT Scale based on two appraisal pathways of protective motivation- threat appraisal pathway and coping appraisal pathway. Data from a large sample of middle school students (n = 2238, 51 % male, mean age 13.13 ± 1.10) recruited in Hubei, China was used to evaluated the validity and reliability of the scale.ResultsThe final scale contains 18 items with seven sub-constructs. Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients for the entire instrument was 0.76, and for the seven sub-constructs of severity, vulnerability, intrinsic reward, extrinsic reward, response efficacy, self-efficacy and response cost was 0.56, 0.82, 0.75, 0.80, 0.90, 0.72 and 0.70, respectively. The construct validity analysis revealed that the one level 7 sub-constructs model fitted data well (GFI = 0.98, CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.03, Chi-sq/df = 3.90, p < 0.001). Predictive validity showed that both the PMT instrument score and the 7 sub-construct scores were significantly correlated with the intention engaged in protective behavior against schistosomiasis (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study provides a reliable and valid tool to measure protective motivation in schistosomiasis prevention control. Further studies are needed to develop more effective intervention programs for schistosomiasis prevention.

Path analysis of skin cancer preventive behavior among the rural women based on protection motivation theory

“…Studies on PMT have indicated that its constructs have high importance in predicting cancer-preventing behaviors [11][12][13]. Due to challenges in motivating women to participate in cervical cancer screening, Bai et al in china studied the role of PMT in predicting their tendency toward performing cervical cancer screening [14].…”

Predictors of Safety Behavior Among Jiroft-City Greenhouse Spray Workers Based on Protection Motivation Theory in 2016

“…These two assessments are taken by individuals to do something intentionally with different degrees of protection or risk which is called protection motivation (21). So far, PMT has been used in different areas of study such as breast cancer (20), wireless security at home (22), preventive behaviors from infectious diseases in poultry keepers (23), skin cancer in farmers (24,25), drought (26), schistosomiasis (27), reductive behaviors of flood (28), risk of fire in deserts (29), etc. With respect to the mentioned ideas and by paying attention to the importance of PMT in the investigation of workers' protective capacity and perception, as well as the fact that up to this time (to the best of our knowledge), no study has been conducted to examine PMT in greenhouse workers, and also since Jiroft is an important region for agricultural products cultivation, especially greenhouse products, therefore, the current study was conducted to examine predictors of safety behavior in workers of Jiroft greenhouses based on PMT in 2016.…”

Path analysis of skin cancer preventive behaviors in rural women based on protection motivation theory

“…The studies performed on PMT indicate that its constructs have a high importance in predicting cancer preventing behaviors (11)(12)(13). Due to challenges in motivating women to participate in cervical cancer screening, Yang et al in china studied the role of PMT on predicting tendency toward performing cervical cancer screening.…”