title: Application of the theory of reasoned action to promoting breakfast consumption.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breakfast is the most important daily meal, but neglected more than other meals by children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention, based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to increase breakfast consumption among school children in Bandar Abbas, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this quasi experimental study which was conducted in 2012, 88 students of four secondary schools in Bandar Abbas, south of Iran, were enrolled. Multi-stage cluster sampling was performed with random allocation of interventional and control groups. The study tool was a questionnaire which was filled by the students before and two months after the educational intervention. For data analysis, statistical tests including paired-samples t-test, independent samples t-test, Wilcoxon test, and Mann-Whitney test were used through SPSS v.18 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The result of the study showed that application of TRA significantly increased scores of behavior of breakfast consumption (p<0.01). After the intervention, a significant increase was revealed in all nutrition intakes, except for fat and sugar (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings support application of the TRA in improving the intention and behavior of breakfast consumption. Applying this theory for designing interventions to increase breakfast eating is recommended.
authors.affiliation: PhD Candidate of Health Education and Promotion, Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. hosseinishirin@ymail.com.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. gharlipour@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zabihollah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gharlipour Gharghani
authors.affiliation: PhD Candidate of Nutrition, Faculty of nutrition sciences and dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mansoori_anahita@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Anahita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mansoori
authors.affiliation: PhD, Professor Social Determinants on Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran. teaghamolaei@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Teamur
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aghamolaei
authors.affiliation: PhD Candidate of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. m.mohammadinasr@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi Nasrabadi
keywords: Breakfast; Students; Theory of Reasoned Action