Effect of Protection and Preventive Behavioral Training Package from Covid-19 on Self-Protection Motivation

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on health and social life have made proper training necessary for protective and preventive behaviors. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of protective and preventive behavior training on students' self-protection motivation during the outbreak of Covid-19. Methods: The method of the present study was a semi-experimental pre-test/post-test type with a control group. The research population included all students of the Azad University - Sari branch in 2022. The sample was selected based on the call of the psychological services and counseling center of the university. The initial sample was 70 people. Based on the entry criteria; in the students who scored one standard deviation from the mean in the protection motivation questionnaire (Khazaee-Pool, et al, 2021), 24 students were voluntarily selected and randomly assigned to two groups of 12 (experimental and control) based on demographic characteristics. The protection motivation questionnaire was completed by the participants of both groups before and after the training package. The control group received no intervention. Results: One-variable analysis of covariance indicated; that the educational package of protective and preventive behaviors can increase the motivation of self-protection in students(P<0.05). Therefore, the comparison of the averages showed; The mean variable of self-protection motivation in the experimental group's post-test was higher than that of the control group. Conclusion:  Based on the obtained results, it seems; that in the conditions of a sudden outbreak of diseases, training protective and preventive behaviors based on the theory of protection motivation can be a solution.