The Role of Education in Promoting Safe Motorcycle Riding Behaviors Among Iranian Students: An Application of the Protection Motivation Theory and the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model

Background: Considering the influential role of teaching safe behaviors in preventing accidents and injuries, this study aims to determine the effect of educational intervention based on protection motivation theory (PMT) and information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model on promoting safe motorcycle riding behaviors in male students at Sabzevar University. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 100 motorcyclist students at Sabzevar University selected using two-stage cluster sampling method in 2018. After confirming the validity and reliability of the instrument, the questionnaire was completed three times before, immediately, and two months after the educational intervention. The intervention group was held in 9 educational sessions for three weeks. The data were analyzed by SPSS18 software using t-test, chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and repeated measures tests. Results: The mean scores of PMT and IMB and safe behaviors of students in the intervention group immediately and two months after the educational intervention compared to the control group showed a statistically significant increase (p<0.001). The mean scores of the studied constructs and safe behaviors in the intervention group had also a statistically significant change over time (p <0.05). Conclusion: The results indicate the effect of educational intervention based on PMT and IMB on promoting safe behaviors in young students. Face-to-face education and virtual education based on a combination of health education theories can be used to effectively promote safe behaviors of motorcyclist students.