The child-to-family education program regarding self-medication: A theory-based interventional study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Education
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Self-medication poses significant social, economic, and health challenges in developing nations like Iran.
• Understanding the factors influencing self-medication is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a child-to-family communication strategy in mitigating self-medication behaviors.
• To apply the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a framework for this educational intervention.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design involving 124 fourth-grade students and their mothers in Isfahan, Iran.
• An intervention group received educational sessions, with students then relaying information to their families.
• Data collected pre- and post-intervention using a researcher-developed HBM-based questionnaire; analyzed with statistical tests.

Main Results:

• The educational intervention significantly increased knowledge and Health Belief Model (HBM) construct scores in the experimental group.
• A significant decrease in perceived barriers to avoiding self-medication was observed post-intervention.
• No significant baseline differences in HBM constructs were noted between the intervention and control groups.

Conclusions:

• Child-to-family education grounded in the Health Belief Model (HBM) proves effective in reducing self-medication.
• Recommendations include developing and implementing HBM-based educational programs to combat self-medication within Iranian families.