the effect of education based on health belief model (hbm) in decreasing dental plaque index among first grade of middle- school girl students in hamadan

the effect­ of education based on health belief model (hbm) in decreasing dental plaque index among first grade of middle- school girl students in hamadan    sohrabivafa m [1] , moeini b [2] *, hazavehei smm [3] , soltanian ar [4] , rezaei l [5]     received: 12 aug , 2013 accepted: 23 sep , 2013     abstract   background & aims : oral­-­dental health behaviors education to students is an important subject in the school to prevent dental problems. the use of suggested educational models and theories is a new way in health service fields. this study was done to determine the effect of health education based on hbm on the decreasing of dental plaque index among first grade of middle - school girl students in hamadan.   materials & methods : in this quasi-experimental study, 120 students were chosen through the stratified random sampling which were in 2 schools and 6 classrooms, and they were placed in the experimental (n=60) and control groups (n=60). data collection tool was a questionnaire based on hbm constructs (perceived severity, susceptibility, benefits, barriers and self-efficacy) ­, knowledge, dental health behaviors and determine dental plaque by disclosing agent . ­­ the educational intervention included 4 educational sessions ­ ­­of 60 minutes . ­ two months after intervention, two groups were followed, and the data were analyzed by using spss16.   results: there were no statistically significant differences in demographic factors in two groups. significant differences were observed in perceived severity (p<0.001), perceived barriers (p<0.001), self efficacy (p<0.001), perceived benefits (p=0.015), knowledge , health behaviors and dental plaque index between the two groups after intervention (p<0.001). there was no statistical significant difference between the two groups in perceived susceptibility­ (p=0.095). finally, the optimal performance as well as decreasing dental plaque index was shown in experimental group comparing to control group.   conclusion: findings showed that educational intervention based on hbm may be an effective method for promoting oral - dental health behaviors and decreasing dental plaque index in students.     key words: health education, dental plaque, school’s students     address: hamadan university of medical sciences, faculty of health, determinants of health & public health department   tel: (+98)0 8118380090,fax:08118380509,mob:09125420453   email : babak_moeini @umsha.ac.ir   [1] msc, dezful university of medical sciences, dezful, iran.  [2] assistant professor in health education .research center for social determinants of health & public health department, faculty of health , hamadan university of medical sciences, hamadan, iran. (corresponding author)  [3] professor in health education .research center for health sciences, hamadan university of medical sciences, hamadan, iran.  [4] assistant professor in department of biostatistics and epidemiology, school of health, hamadan university of medical sciences, hamadan, iran  [5] dds,associated professor in department of dentistry, school of dentistry hamadan university of medical sciences,hamadan, iran.