Abstract
Few Iranian women take the Papanicolaou test despite its important role in preventing cervical cancer. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on the protection motivation theory (PMT) variables and implementation intentions in the first and second Pap test practice among Iranian women. In this quasi-randomized controlled trial, 200 women who were referred to 30 primary health care clinics in Tehran were randomly selected. PMT variables and Pap test practice were measured at baseline and again after 3 and 15 months. The 4-week educational intervention program was conducted for the intervention group. Following the intervention, the mean scores of self-efficacy, perceived vulnerability, and behavior intention variables were significantly higher in the intervention group when compared to the control group (p<0.05). No significant differences were found in the perceived severity, response efficacy, response cost, and fear between the two groups following the intervention. Higher percent of women in the intervention group had obtained first and second Pap test compared to the controls. The PMT and implementation intentions provide a suitable theory-based framework for developing educational interventions regarding Pap test practice in Iran.
Highlights
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer (Mortazavi et al, 2000) and the most common gynecological cancer in Iranian females (Behtash et al, 2005)
This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on the protection motivation theory (PMT) variables and implementation intentions in the first and second Pap test practice among Iranian women
The results of the present study showed that three and fifteen months after the intervention, a considerable increase occurred in the first and second Pap test practice in the intervention group when compared to the control
Summary
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer (Mortazavi et al, 2000) and the most common gynecological cancer in Iranian females (Behtash et al, 2005). Theory-based educational interventions are needed to provide the required information about cervical screening, modifying maladaptive beliefs, and increasing the rate of regular Pap test practice among women (Markovic et al, 2005; Gu et al, 2012; Demirtas and Acikgoz, 2013). PMT was introduced by Rogers as a predictive theoretical model of health behaviors This theory proposes that two appraisal processes, i.e. threat and coping appraisal, occur when the individual receives threatening information. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on the protection motivation theory (PMT) variables and implementation intentions in the first and second Pap test practice among Iranian women.
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