Action status and willingness to change health-promoting behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic among elementary school children: a study based on Prochaska's stages of behavior change theory (TTM).

BACKGROUND & AIM: COVID-19 pandemic has significant effects on lifestyle and health-promoting behaviors and adolescence is a very critical period due to the importance of identity formation and individual behaviors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the status of health- promoting behaviors in the sixth grade male students attending elementary schools in Ardabil city based on Prochaska 's stages of behavior change (TTM). MATERIALS & METHODS: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on the 619 sixth grade male students attending elementary schools during 2021. The data were collected using two instruments (a researcher-made questionnaire and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II) questionnaire). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 and one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: The majority of students in physical activity and healthy eating behaviors were in the pre-contemplation stage, 29.6% (183 people) and 33.1% (205 people), respectively. All dimensions of health-promoting behaviors were observed to have a significant relationship with the stages of Prochaska's theory behavior change in students, their decision-making balance and self-efficacy scores (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The health of students is under serious threat due to the poor state of health-promoting behaviors and the weak desire to change behavior. By planning in educating the students, significant changes can be made in changing their behavior and improving their health.

Risk perception and adherence to preventive behaviours related to the COVID-19 pandemic: a community-based study applying the health belief model.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), now a global pandemic, is a new, highly contagious, and preventable disease that has caused many deaths across the world. Correct understanding of the risks and following health instructions are among the most important self-care parameters. AIMS: To assess people's perception of the risks and their adherence to recommended preventive behaviours regarding COVID-19 infection. METHOD: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted with 1861 people residing in Ardabil province in 2020. The data were collected electronically and included four elements: demographic details; health belief model (HBM) constructs (perceived sensitivity, perceived severity and perceived benefits); beliefs about the effectiveness of disease prevention strategies; and complying with health behaviours. The data was analysed using SPSS-21 software. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the mean scores for beliefs about the effectiveness of preventative measures, the constructs of the health belief model, and compliance with preventive behaviours relating to the participants' gender, age, marital status and level of education. Beliefs and intention to stay at home, collectively predicted 54.7% of the variance in preventive behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: Although a majority of participants had positive attitudes towards the effectiveness of preventive measures and adhered to them, some people who were not adherent with these healthy behaviours could be key participants in the next wave of the disease.