Effect of a Health Belief Model Based Education Program on Women's Cervical Cancer Knowledge and HPV Vaccination...

Background/Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the effect of a Health Belief Model-based education program implemented in Family Health Centers on women's cervical cancer knowledge and their attitudes and beliefs toward HPV vaccination. Methods: This quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group study was conducted between March and May 2026 at the Tuşba Training Family Health Center in Van, eastern Türkiye. The study included 150 women aged 18-49 years who had adolescent daughters aged 10-18 years. Data were collected using the Descriptive Information Form, the Cervical Cancer Knowledge Scale, and the Carolina HPV Immunization Attitudes and Beliefs Scale. The intervention group received a structured education program based on the Health Belief Model focusing on cervical cancer, HPV infection, and HPV vaccination. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, independent samples t-tests, paired samples t-tests, and mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for data analysis. Results: Following the educational intervention, cervical cancer knowledge scores increased from 2.13 ± 0.79 to 7.24 ± 0.84 in the intervention group, whereas no significant change was observed in the control group (p < 0.001). Total CHIAS scores increased from 24.32 ± 5.30 to 41.23 ± 2.51, accompanied by significant improvements in HPV vaccination attitudes and beliefs (p < 0.001). Significant Group × Time interaction effects were observed for cervical cancer knowledge, total CHIAS scores, and all CHIAS subdimensions (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings indicated that the Health Belief Model-based education program was associated with improved knowledge about cervical cancer and HPV and with more favorable attitudes and beliefs toward HPV vaccination. Structured educational programs implemented in primary healthcare settings may support the promotion of preventive health behaviors.