Health-Promoting Lifestyle Education Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior to Improve Students’ Health Literacy

The present study aimed to determine the effect of lifestyle educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior on promoting the health literacy among medical sciences students in Iran 2024. The present quasi-experimental study examined 80 medical sciences students divided them into two groups, intervention, and control (40 individuals per group). Data collection tools included the demographic information questionnaire, the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA). Questionnaire (based on the TPB constructs). Data were collected twice. Data were analyzed using SPSS, and the results were considered significant at a statistical level (p<0.05).

The implementation of the educational intervention significantly increased the mean scores of health literacy, attitudes, subjective- norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention. 53 percent of students had adequate literacy, 18% marginal, and 9% inadequate literacy. After controlling for the pre-test variable effect, covariance analysis reflects significant difference in total health literacy score and its dimension at posttest (P < 0.001).

The educational intervention was effective in promoting health literacy of medical sciences students. Therefore, it is suggested using the educational program of the present study along with other medical sciences students’ health care.