Skin cancer preventive behaviours among rural Illam farmers, western Iran: applying protection motivation theory

ABSTRACT The aim of the present research was to investigate the effect of a health education intervention on promoting skin cancer preventive behaviours (SCPBs) among rural farmers in Illam, Iran during May to July 2017. A sample of 248 participants, where each participant was randomly assigned into either the experimental (n = 124) or control (n = 124) group. The experimental group received eighteducational sessions (lectures, question and answer sessions, field training, pamphlets, posters). All participants completed a researcher designed questionnaire. In the experimental group a significant difference was observed between all scales (perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, rewards, response efficacy, self-efficacy, response costs, and protection motivation) before, immediately after, and two months after the intervention (p > 0.05). The present findings support the effectiveness of interventions based on PMT to change attitudes and behaviours related to skin cancer among rural farmers.