title: Health belief model and reasoned action theory in predicting water saving behaviors in yazd, iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People's behaviors and intentions about healthy behaviors depend on their beliefs, values, and knowledge about the issue. Various models of health education are used in deter¬mining predictors of different healthy behaviors but their efficacy in cultural behaviors, such as water saving behaviors, are not studied. The study was conducted to explain water saving beha¬viors in Yazd, Iran on the basis of Health Belief Model and Reasoned Action Theory.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study used random cluster sampling to recruit 200 heads of households to collect the data. The survey questionnaire was tested for its content validity and reliability. Analysis of data included descriptive statistics, simple correlation, hierarchical multiple regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Simple correlations between water saving behaviors and Reasoned Action Theory and Health Belief Model constructs were statistically significant. Health Belief Model and Reasoned Action Theory constructs explained 20.80% and 8.40% of the variances in water saving beha-viors, respectively. Perceived barriers were the strongest Predictor. Additionally, there was a sta¬tistically positive correlation between water saving behaviors and intention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In designing interventions aimed at water waste prevention, barriers of water saving behaviors should be addressed first, followed by people's attitude towards water saving. Health Belief Model constructs, with the exception of perceived severity and benefits, is more powerful than is Reasoned Action Theory in predicting water saving behavior and may be used as a framework for educational interventions aimed at improving water saving behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Health Education and promotion, Faculty of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Morowatisharifabad
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Health Education and promotion, Faculty of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Momayyezi
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Environment Health, Faculty of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ghaneian
keywords: Health Belief Model; Predictor; Reasoned Action Theory; water saving behaviors