The Effect of an Educational Intervention Based on Protection Motivation Theory on the Adoption of Preventive Behaviors against Head Lice Infestation among Female Students

Hashemian, Masoumeh; Hekmatshoar, Reza; Mehri, Ali; Shahrabadi, Reza; Joveini, Hamid; Movahedzadeh, Davood; Takbiri, Afsaneh; Vejdani, Marjan; Alipour-Anbarani, Mansoure

doi:10.22034/meb.2026.588431.1131

The Effect of an Educational Intervention Based on Protection Motivation Theory on the Adoption of Preventive Behaviors against Head Lice Infestation among Female Students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Masoumeh Hashemian ¹

Reza Hekmatshoar ²

Ali Mehri ¹

Reza Shahrabadi ¹

Hamid Joveini ¹

Davood Movahedzadeh ¹

Afsaneh Takbiri ³

Marjan Vejdani ³

Mansoure Alipour-Anbarani ¹

¹ Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.

² Department of Occupational Health, School of Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.

³ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.

10.22034/meb.2026.588431.1131

Abstract

Background: Head lice (pediculosis) is a common public‑health problem among school‑aged children, especially girls. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention based on Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) on adoption of preventive behaviors against head lice among female elementary‑school students.
Materials and Methods: In this quasi‑experimental study, 151 female students were assigned to intervention (n = 84) and control (n = 67) groups. Study areas were randomly allocated to intervention or control arms; one elementary school per area was selected and fourth‑ to sixth‑grade students recruited using two‑stage cluster sampling. Data were collected with a researcher‑developed questionnaire measuring awareness, PMT constructs, and preventive behaviors. Analyses (SPSS v.16) included descriptive statistics, independent and paired t tests, Pearson correlation, and ANCOVA adjusting for baseline values.
Results: A total of 151 female elementary‑school students participated (intervention: n = 84; control: n = 67). Baseline scores for awareness, PMT constructs, and preventive behaviors did not differ significantly between groups (p> 0.05). Post‑intervention, the intervention group showed significantly higher scores across all variables compared with the control group (p ≤ 0.001). ANCOVA adjusting for baseline confirmed significant effects on perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, self‑efficacy, response efficacy, response costs, fear, protection motivation, and preventive behaviors (p < 0.05), while the effect on awareness was not significant. PMT constructs were positively correlated with preventive behaviors.
Conclusion: A PMT‑based educational intervention effectively improved key cognitive and motivational determinants of behavior and significantly increased the adoption of preventive behaviors against head lice among female elementary‑school students, although no significant effect was observed on awareness.

Keywords

Health education, Pediculosis

Prevention

Students

Protection Motivation Theory