title: Skin cancer preventive behaviors among rural farmers: An intervention based on protection motivation theory.
abstract: Background:Skin cancer is a serious public health problem in the world. Its prevalence in many countries has been increased in recent years. This study aimed to assess the effects of a theory-based educational intervention to promote skin cancer preventive behaviors (SCPBs) among rural farmers in Chalderan County, Iran.Methods:This was a quasi-randomized controlled field trial study conducted on 238 rural farmers. The data were collected by a questionnaire containing the constructs of the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) as well as the items of SCPBs. The differences between the groups before and 3 months after the intervention were determined by independent t-test, paired t-test, and chi-square applying SPSS software.Results:Before the intervention, no significant difference was found in the scores of the PMT constructs between the two groups (p>0.05). However, significant differences were found between the scores of all the variables, as well as SCPBs, in the two groups after the intervention (p<0.05).Conclusion:The PMT was found to be an appropriate framework for designing educational interventions aiming at promoting SCPBs among rural farmers. It was concluded that designing an educational program with a focus on promoting perceived susceptibility increased the level of performing SCPBs among the rural farmers.
authors.affiliation: PhD Candidate in Health Education and Promotion, Student Research Committee, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Tabriz, Iran. towhid.babazadeh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Towhid
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Babazadeh
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of public health, School of Khalkhal Medical Sciences, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran. a.kamran@arums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Aziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamran
authors.affiliation: PhD Student in Environmental Health Engineering, School of health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. a.dargahi29@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Abdollah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dargahi
authors.affiliation: MSc in Urban Management, Department of Municipal Health in Tehran, Tehran Municipality, Tehran, Iran. moradi20294@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.affiliation: MSc in Midwifery, Department of Municipal Health in Tehran, Tehran Municipality, Tehran, Iran. shariat.f123@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shariat
authors.affiliation: PhD candidate of Health Education and Health Promotion, Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, School of health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. h.rezakhani@arums.ac.ir .
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rezakhani Moghaddam
keywords: Education; Motivation; Preventive medicine; Skin cancer