Predicting Covid-19 Prevention Behaviors Based on the Health Belief Model Among the Students of Nursing and Midwifery Faculty of Zanjan City

The epidemic of respiratory diseases and their complications and mortalities have always been considered one of the health threats to humans.

This study aimed to identify the predictors of Covid-19 prevention behaviors based on the health belief model among the students of the Nursing and Midwifery Faculty of Zanjan City in 2021.

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 294 nursing students recruited using the convenience sampling method. A three-part questionnaire addressing demographic characteristics, the health belief model, and preventive behaviors were used. The questionnaire was provided to the participants via sharing on social media. For statistical analysis, the independent t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and regression were conducted in SPSS v.22 software.

The mean (SD) of preventive behaviors and health belief scores were 42.36 (3.23) and 113.11 (10.07), respectively. The highest and lowest scores were related to the constructs of perceived benefits (3.82 from 5) and perceived barriers (3.003 from 5), respectively. According to Pearson’s correlation coefficient, preventive behaviors had a direct and statistically significant correlation with the perceived sensitivity, perceived intensity, perceived benefits, self-efficacy, and action guide constructs (P<0.05). The constructs of perceived sensitivity, perceived intensity, self-efficacy, and action guide predicted 13%, 9.7%, 22%, and 19.4% of the variance in preventive behaviors, respectively.

Based on the findings of the present study, self-efficacy was the most prominent construct predicting COVID-19 prevention behaviors among students. Therefore, methods that enhance self-efficacy, such as boosting awareness and empowerment strategies, can be employed to manage the preventive behaviors of students during infectious emerging diseases.