The Impact of Health Education on Coronavirus Disease Preventive Behaviours in Oil Industry Workers: An Application of Health Belief Model

Background: Recently, the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 is a new emerging universal challenge in the infectious epidemic diseases management. Even today with the vaccine accessibility, the most efficient intervention is behaviour-based intervention and with the emergence of new diverse, it remains significant. The goal of present study was to promote preventive behaviours during the coronavirus pandemic among oil factory workers using the Health Belief Model.  Methods: 138 onshore shift workers (69 control and 69 case group) were randomly chosen from the two sites of oil fields of southern Iran. Data collection tools in this study were a questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, knowledge and Health Belief Model questionnaires. WhatsApp application was used to educate among intervention group. Workers completed questionnaires at baseline and post intervention and 3-month after the educational program. Data analyses were done using SPSS.  Results: Except knowledge and cues to action, there were significant interaction effects between times and group for Health Belief Model constructs and behaviour (P≤0.05). Furthermore, results revealed that there were significantly different changes between follow-up and baseline in intervention group for all variables (P≤0.05). The test of linear regression indicated that the perceived benefit (ß=0.48, P=0.001) and self-efficacy (ß=0.40, P=0.001) had the most impact on preventive behaviour, respectively.  Conclusions: The results showed that the efficient education based on the HBM and emphasizing on enhancing knowledge and preventive behaviors adoption can prevent the individuals from increasing COVID-19 disease and its complications. Considering that the perceived benefits and self-efficacy were the strongest predictor of behavior, attention to these constructs in educational interventions, especially among oil factories shift workers studied, who are at risk of COVID-19 and with no enough related knowledge, can present better outcomes related to COVID-19 preventive behaviors.