Background
Cervical cancer is the third most common cause of death among gynecologic cancers and Pap smear test as an effective screening method. The aim of this study was the effect of education based on health belief model on women's practice about Pap smear test.
Methods
This study was a controlled quasi-experimental study conducted on 120 women aged 20-65 years and the samples were randomly divided into two groups of 60 persons; intervention group (under education) and control group (without education). Then women were evaluated in two stages (before intervention and two months after intervention). The training was held in two 1.5-hour sessions with practical displays, films, lectures and questions and answers.
Results
Before education, 23.3% of women in case group and 31.7% in control group had done Pap smear, but after education, 31.7% of them in case group and 3.3% in control group had done Pap smear. There was not a significant difference before education between two groups (P=0.414), but after education, a significant difference between two groups in terms of women's practice was observed (P=0.001). In case group was found a significant difference before and after intervention in terms of HBM constructs (P