Application of Health Belief Model for Osteoporosis Risk Prevention among Late Adolescent Female College Students

Abstract

Nowadays osteoporosis is considered critical health issue and has been called the silent disease of the century. Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a health education intervention based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on late adolescent female college students’ health beliefs and performances about osteoporosis preventive behaviors. An intervention study design was used. The study was conducted at Faculty of Nursing Ain Shams University. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit one hundred forty two female nursing students. Data was collected through four tools: 1st tool was Arabic self-administered questionnaire, 2nd tool was osteoporosis knowledge test (OKT), 3rd tool was osteoporosis health belief scale (OHBS) and 4th tool was osteoporosis preventing behaviors survey (OPBS). Results showed that there was a highly statistical significant improvement in female collage students' knowledge pre & post intervention and follow up at six months as total knowledge mean score (7.65±2.36, 10.82±7.30 and 19.33±7.30) respectively. Moreover, there was a statistical significant improvement in female collage students' behavior action for osteoporosis prevention post intervention and at follow up "six months"; as (36.7 and 30.1%) of students had acceptable level of daily calcium intake and weekly exposure to sun respectively. While, at follow up 47.9 % of female collage students' had acceptable level of weekly physical activity. Conclusion: the findings of present study confirmed that health education intervention based on HBM improve preventive health behaviors about osteoporosis among late adolescence female college students. This was clarified by significant increasing of late adolescence female college students' level of knowledge, changing their health belief toward osteoporosis and applying preventive behavior to reduce risk of osteoporosis. Recommendations: in the light of the results of the present study the following recommendations were suggested; application of educational program based on HBM for women at different stage of life is highly recommended to reduce risk of osteoporosis. Furthermore, integrate the osteoporosis topic for undergraduate student's curriculum to promote knowledge and awareness about osteoporosis preventive behavior.