The Effect of Educational Text Message Based on Health Belief Model on Osteoporosis Preventive Behaviors in Reproductive Age Women: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Osteoporosis is an important health issue due to its high prevalence. This disease is three times more prevalent in women than in men because their maximum bone density is lower than men’s. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of educational text message based on health belief model on osteoporosis preventive behaviors in reproductive age women. Method: This randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted on 121 women aged 30-45 years in their reproductive age who were assigned to the intervention or control group using randomized blocks. For the intervention group a face-to-face training session was conducted. Then, the intervention group received educational text message on osteoporosis on a daily basis for one month and the control group received educational text message on common cancers in women. Two months after the training, Data were collected using, osteoporosis health belief scale (OHBS), food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) and were analyzed using chi-square test, independent t-test, and ANCOVA (by controlling baseline score and adjustment of educational level) at significance level of 0.05. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups except for the perceived benefits construct (p= 0.002). But after the intervention, by controlling baseline score and adjustment of educational level, statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of knowledge (p= 0.001), perceived susceptibility (p= 0.001), perceived severity (p= 0.001), perceived benefits (p= 0.002), perceived barriers (p= 0.015), self-efficacy (p= 0.002), internal cues to action (p= 0.033) and nutrition performance (p= 0.029) while there was no significant difference in terms of physical activity between the two groups (p= 0.609). Conclusion: This study showed that SMS-based intervention based on health belief model, can be effective in increasing awareness, perceived susceptibility and severity, and behavior change.