Educational Guidelines Based on Health Belief Model regarding Cigarette Smoking Cessation among Secondary Schools Male Students

Background: Smoking is seen as a severe public health concern around the world due to its link to higher mortality rates, especially among adolescents. Aim: This study aimed to appraise the effect of educational guidelines based on health belief model on knowledge, attitude and beliefs regarding cigarette smoking cessation among secondary schools male students Design: A quasi-experimental research design was used. Setting: The study was carried out at Benha Mechanical Secondary School & Benha Decoration Secondary School for males, Qalyoubia, Egypt. Sample : A non-probability purposive and a snowball sampling method included 212 students. Tools : Three tools were used. Tool I : A structured interviewing questionnaire to assess demographic characteristics of the studied students, smoking status and their knowledge regarding smoking and cigarette smoking cessation. Tool II : To assess attitude of studied students regarding cigarette smoking cessation. Tool III: Health Belief Model Scale; to assess the studied students’ beliefs regarding cigarette smoking cessation. Results: Only 14.6% of studied students had good total knowledge level pre educational guidelines improved to 72.6% post educational guidelines, 44.8% of them had positive attitude pre educational guidelines improved to 67.9% post educational guidelines, also 13.7% of them had high health beliefs pre educational guidelines improved to 61.8% post educational guidelines regarding cigarette smoking cessation. There was a positive statistical correlation between total knowledge and total attitude and between total knowledge and total health beliefs post educational guidelines. Also, there were a positive statistical correlation between total attitude and total health beliefs (p<0.001). Conclusion : The implementation of educational guidelines based on health belief model has improved secondary school male students’ knowledge, attitude, and beliefs regarding smoking cessation. Recommendation : An educational program should be implemented for adolescent students' at all educational institutions regarding smoking cessation. Also smoking management strategies should be covered in high school curricula.