The Effect of Health Belief Model for Preventing and Controlling Cancer Risk Behaviors among School Age Children

Background: Cancer is a major cause of mortality in all over the world. The cancer problem in children and adolescents is large enough to be considered a warning of an impending worldwide. Educating children about cancer risks can improve awareness and introduce healthy lifestyle habits. Cancer prevention education must begin at an early age, because the foundation for more health-impacting risk behaviors later in life is forming at this age. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the health belief model for preventing and controlling cancer risk behaviors among school age children. Materials and Methods : A quasi-experimental study was performed on a purposive sample of 100 school age children was selected from two governmental schools affiliated to Beni-Suef city. The data gathering tools were two questionnaires including cancer knowledge questionnaire and health belief model constructs questionnaire which were used. It used to measure practices for preventing and controlling cancer risk behaviors. The Questionnaires were completed before, immediately, and three months later after the intervention. Results : The present study results indicated that immediately and three months later after the intervention, the knowledge of studied children improved significantly and the mean scores of the health belief model constructs (Perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and preventive cancer risks behaviors was increased than pre the program (P<0.001). Conclusion: The findings of the present study confirmed the practicability and effectiveness of the Health Belief Model based educational program in enhancing children's lifestyle behaviors about preventing and controlling cancer risks. Hence, these models can act as a framework for designing and implementing educational interventions for the cancer prevention at schools. Recommendation: The importance should be given to these classes in schools, try to increase children’s perception of cancer risks, explain the benefits of protective behavior.