Developing a Health Belief Model Scale for Smoking Behaviour During Pregnancy: Validity and Reliability Study

Abstract

Objective: The Health Belief Model, which is one of the most frequently used models in explaining health behaviours, reveals the determinants of performing preventive health behaviours. Since our perceptions play an active role in changing a behaviour, a measurement tool is needed to evaluate the pregnant woman perceptually within the scope of HBM. Our study was conducted to analyze the perceptions of pregnant women about quitting smoking by developing a scale within the scope of Health Belief Model and analyze the validity and reliability of the scale within Turkish context. Methods: In the methodological study, which was conducted at the gynecology polyclinic of an university hospital between 15.05.2018 - 30.04.2019, the data were collected by applying a questionnaire to pregnant women who smoked at least one cigarette per day. The sample of the study consists of 289 pregnant women who applied to the clinic for routine pregnancy follow-ups. The content validity of the scale was evaluated by taking the opinions of nine experts in the field of public health nursing. Descriptive and confirmatory factor analysis methods were used in the analysis of the data. Results: 24.6% of the participants are high school graduates, 56.7% are not employed, 49.1% have a history of unplanned pregnancy, and 1% have started smoking during their current pregnancy. Cronbach Alpha values of the sub-dimensions of the scale ranged between .90 and .70, respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis fit indices were found as RMSEA = 0.066, CFI = 0.904 and NFI = 0.842. Conclusion: The scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool for measuring perceptions of pregnant women about smoking cessation behavior smoking behaviours. It is recommended to use the assessment of perceptions of smoking cessation behavior among pregnant smokers.