Factors affecting cigarette smoking based on health-belief model structures in pre-university students in Isfahan, Iran

INTRODUCTION: The goal of this study was to determine the association between constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM) (i.e., perceived susceptibility to health-related problems due to smoking, perceived barriers to non-smoking, perceived benefits of non-smoking, perceived self-efficacy to non-smoking, and cues to action of non-smoking) and cigarette smoking among male pre-college students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 382 pre-college students was conducted in Isfahan, in 2010. The method of sampling was systematic randomized and students were selected from eight schools. The instrument was developed by the researchers based on the Health Belief Model. Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS.V.18, Chi-square, and independent t-tests. RESULTS: The mean age of the students was 17.72 ± 0.62 years. Overall 7.2% of the subjects reported having smoked in the past 30 days and 32.7% % of the samples reported ever having smoked in their life time. Results of the t-test showed that there were significant differences in knowledge, perceived susceptibility (P =0.03), benefits (t (246) = -2.51, P =0.01), self-efficacy (P < 0.001), and cues to action (P = 0.007), between smokers and non-smokers CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the constructs of HBM can be incorporated when examining the predictors of cigarette smoking and developing smoking prevention programs among pre-college students. Furthermore, with a better understanding of the factors affecting this complex behavior (cigarette smoking), it can be a useful step to reduce the rate of death, costs, and also improve the community health outcomes.