Back to browse issues page 2015, 13(11): 1061-1072

Diabetes is a chronic disease capable of causing serious complications affecting the circulatory and nervous systems, kidneys, eyes, and feet, and is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Given the enormous economic and social burdens of diabetes, screening is performed in health care service centers.. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the Health Belief Model (HBM) on, Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of people over 30 years old referred for diabetes screenings. This research was an educational trial study. Eighty people over 30 years old attending health centers in Sirjan town, were selected to participate in this study (40 in intervention group and 40 in control group). The intervention was conducted over two sessions in 60 minutes. Data were collected by a validated and reliable questionnaire (64 questions) before intervention and three months after that. Data was analyzed by chi-square, fisher's exact, paired t and independent t-tests. After intervention, knowledge scores significantly increased in both intervention and control groups, which were probably due to the routine education program in that center. But significant increase in attitude and practice was only observed in the intervention group. Also perceived benefits, perceived barriers and cues to action significantly increased in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.001). But, there was not any significant difference in the control group. The Health Belief Model was effective in educating the people over 30 years old. Therefore, it is proposed traditional training methods along with the Health Belief Model in training people over 30 years old.