Effect of Health Belief Model-Based Education on Cervical Cancer Knowledge and HPV Vaccine Attitudes in Women

Overview

This study aims to evaluate the effect of a Health Belief Model-based educational intervention on women's knowledge of cervical cancer and their attitudes and beliefs toward HPV vaccination. The study will be conducted among women aged 18-49 years attending a primary health care center in Van, Turkey. Participants will be assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group will receive a structured, face-to-face educational program, while the control group will receive routine care. Data will be collected using validated questionnaires before and after the intervention. The findings are expected to contribute to improving preventive health behaviors and increasing HPV vaccination awareness among women.

This study is a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest controlled intervention designed to assess the effectiveness of a Health Belief Model (HBM)-based educational program on cervical cancer knowledge and HPV vaccination attitudes among women. The study will be conducted in a primary health care setting in Van, Turkey. The study population consists of women aged 18-49 years who attend the Tusba Training Family Health Center. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria and provide informed consent will be included. The sample size is planned to include at least 100 participants, with approximately equal numbers in the intervention and control groups. Participants will be assigned to intervention and control groups using a systematic allocation approach based on order of admission. Before the intervention, baseline data will be collected using a Participant Information Form, a Cervical Cancer Knowledge Scale, and the Carolina HPV Immunization Attitudes and Beliefs Scale. The intervention group will receive a structured educational program based on the Health Belief Model. The program consists of two sessions lasting approximately 30-40 minutes each and will be delivered face-to-face. The content includes information about cervical cancer, risk factors, screening methods, HPV infection, HPV vaccination, and common misconceptions. The educational content is structured around key HBM constructs, including perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers. The control group will receive routine health care services without additional educational intervention. Post-test data will be collected approximately 15 days after the intervention using the same measurement tools. Data will be analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, including descriptive statistics and comparative tests for within-group and between-group differences. Statistical significance will be set at p \< 0.05. The study does not involve any invasive procedures, biological sample collection, or pharmaceutical interventions. All procedures will be conducted in accordance with ethical principles, and participant confidentiality will be maintained throughout the study.