Effect of Educational Intervention Based on Health Belief Model among High-Risk undergraduate nursing students for Obesity

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Lecturer at Department of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Port-Said University

2 Lecturer of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University

3 Assist. Professor of Community Health Nursing department, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University

4 Assist. Professor of Community Health Nursing Beni- Suef University, Egypt

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are risk factors for the development of chronic diseases with at least 2.8
million adults dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese. Aim: Determine the effect
of educational intervention based on the health belief model among high-risk undergraduate nursing
students for obesity. Research design: A quasi-experimental research design pre-post-test was
utilized in this study. Settings: The study was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing at Mansoura
University. Subjects: A purposive sample composed of 160 undergraduate nursing students who are
at high risk for obesity was included. Tools of data collection: Tool (I): A Self-administered
questionnaire, was composed of 4 parts, part one: Undergraduate nursing students' data, and part
two: Undergraduate nursing students' knowledge regarding obesity. Part three: Undergraduate
nursing students' self-reported practices regarding healthy food and regular exercise. Part four: The
effects of obesity on undergraduate nursing students' lifestyle assessment sheet. Tool (II): The
health belief model assessment sheet. Tool (III): Anthropometric measurement to detect body mass
index. Results: Revealed that more than two-fifths of undergraduate nursing students were in
obesity class1, and two-fifths were in obesity class II. There was a highly significant difference
between undergraduate nursing students' knowledge & their practices regarding obesity, healthy
food, and exercises pre & post-educational intervention based on the health belief model.
Conclusion: The study concluded that educational intervention based on the health belief model
has a positive effect on improved knowledge and practices among high-risk undergraduate nursing
students for obesity. Recommendations: The study suggested that the educational intervention
based on the health belief model should be integrated into care among high-risk undergraduate
nursing students for obesity. Conducting routine screening by measuring body mass index for
undergraduate nursing students who are at high-risk for obesity.

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