SURVEY OF PROSTATE CANCER-PREVENTIVE BEHAVIORS BASED ON THE HEALTH BELIEF MODEL CONSTRUCTS AMONG MALE TEACHERS OF URMIA CITY, IN 2015

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men after lung cancer
and the second leading cause of cancer death in men. In describing the epidemiology of prostate cancer,
it is considered as a preventable disease. The aim of this study was to investigate and explain preventive
behaviors of prostate cancer based on the health belief model structures among male teachers of Urmia
city.
Materials & Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 263 teachers who were
selected randomly from from public schools in Urmia. Data collection was performed via a
questionnaire, which included demographic characteristics, items regarding HBM constructs, and a
performance checklist. Data was analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistical methods in SPSS
software with version of 16 (frequencies, mean and standard deviation, Pearson correlation coefficient
and linear regression coefficient) .
Results: the study highlighted a significant relationship between mean scores of perceived susceptibility,
benefits and barriers and self efficacy with the teachers’ performance on adopting the preventive
behaviors of prostate cancer (p <0.001). But, no significant relationship was observed between the
perceived severity with the preventive performance of prostate cancer among teachers (p> 0.05). Also
among the health belief model constucts, perceived barriers and benefits and self-efficacy were the most
important predictor of prostate cancer preventive behavior among teachers(p ≤ 0.001).
Conclusions: This study suggests that health service providers or health professionals should pay
attention to predictive constucts (perceived barriers and benefits and self-efficacy )in designing and
implementing health education programs regarding prostate cancer and its preventive behaviors.