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

Abstract

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/m 2 at baseline to 25.8±2.4 kg/m 2 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.

Educational interventions in relation to the level of physical activities for police officers: a systematic literature review

“…In relation to the primary and secondary outcomes, educational interventions were capable of improving in a positive and statistically significant manner: the level of PA (60%) In the study performed in Iran, educational intervention was developed based on the health belief model to increase awareness, improve health behaviors of specific groups, such as improvement to the level of PA. The health belief model constitutes one of the first theoretical models prepared to explain and change health behaviors and is based on the expectancy-value theory, offering insights on how people can be motivated to improve healthy behaviors (Saffari et al, 2020).…”

“…The BMI decreased from X ± SD= 26.7 ± 2;9 kg / m2 before the intervention to X ± SD= 25.8 ± 2.4 kg / m2 after the intervention (p= 0.012). Thus, there was a reduction to the BMI from 43% to 33% (a 10% improvement) (Saffari et al, 2020).…”

Health Belief Model and Hypertension Prevention

“…25A study on 58 police officers in Iran, found that educational programs based on HBM were effective in increasing susceptibility, severity, benefits for CVD prevention behavior. The scores obtained in the pre-test and post-test are at susceptibility 3.30 ± 0.29, severity 3.36 ± 0.24, benefits 3.60 ± 0.27, barriers 2.93 ± 0.22, cues to action 2.83 ± 0.34 and Self-efficacy: 3.26 ± 0.26 26.…”

Application of health education and promotion theory-based interventions on patients with cardiovascular disease

“…The health belief model (HBM) is recognized as a model/theory for health-related behaviors which has been tested in different health-related situations. [ 6 10 11 12 13 ] Another model which applied in individual behavior change is transtheoretical model (TTM) or stages of change (SOC) model. TTM as a model of behavior change suggests how individual move through five SOC.…”

“…The evidence noted that HBM, TTM, Beliefs, Attitudes, Subjective Norms and Enabling Factors (BAZNEF), TPB, and SCT have been generally used in behavioral studies, primary and secondary preventive health issues. [ 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 ] In this review, we assessed also other intrapersonal and interpersonal theories/models in three educational, clinical, and practical outcomes among patients with CVDs.…”