The Effect of Health Belief Model-Based Training on Preventive Behaviors of Hepatitis B in Addicts

Background: Prevalence of hepatitis B has been significantly increased among injecting drug users (IDUs) in the recent years. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of health belief model (HBM)-based training on the preventive behaviors of hepatitis B in addicts. Patients and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 84 eligible substance users were selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Data were gathered using 3 questionnaires: demographics, HBM’s components, and the preventive behavior of hepatitis B. A HBM-based intervention was conducted on the experimental group. The data were analyzed by paired and independent t-tests, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and Chi-square test using the SPSS/16 software. Results: A significant difference was observed between the means of all HBM’s components and preventive behaviors of hepatitis B of the 2 groups except perceived severity after the intervention (P < 0.05). In the experimental group, the mean difference of the scores before and after the intervention for each of the HBM’s components and the preventive behavior was significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Training based on HBM could have effects on the preventive behaviors of hepatitis “B”. Training based on HMB is recommended as a low-cost and effective method.