title: Determinants of Behavior of Students as Pedestrian and Car Occupants in Relation to Traffic Laws in 2013, Gorgan, Iran; An Application of Health Belief Model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the behavioral pattern of Golestan University of Medical Science (GUMS) students as pedestrian and car occupants in relation to traffic law based on Health Belief Model.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was performed during 2012 in GUMS. A total of 370 students of GUMS were selected using multi-stage sampling method  including stratified and  random  sampling. Data were collected by using a reliable and valid questionnaire. All the participants filled the questionnaire and the data was extracted according to previously described method. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 18 Software. Descriptive statistic and Spearman correlation was used for analyzing the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of the participants was 20.92±1.98 (range 17-32) years. Mean score of perceived susceptibility was 81.87±17.18, being in desirable level. Mean score of perceived severity was 73.39±18.4, being also in desirable level. Mean score of perceived benefits was 77.22 ±16.13, which was also assumed to be in desirable level. Mean score of perceived barriers was 53.46±16.27, assumed as moderate level. In the same way the mean score of practice was 66.17±17.51, so practice in students was in moderate level. Television was the most important cues to action.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits regarding safety behaviors was in good level but perceived barriers and behavior was in moderate level and according to the importance of Television, we recommended appropriate intervention such as health education and advocacy, especially through national Television.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran.
authors.forename: Hashem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heshmati
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Behnampour
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Golnaz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Binaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Management, Payamnour University, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Samane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khajavai
keywords: Behavioral pattern; Health belief model; Traffic Law; University  students