Prediction of Preventive Behaviors of Hepatitis B among Nurses; Insights from the Theory of Planned Behavior

Background: Hepatitis B is the cause of the majority of acute and chronic infections, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer in the world. The purpose of current research was to investigation the hepatitis B (HB) preventive behaviors in nurses in west of Iran by using the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Methods This cross-sectional research was conducted on 330 nurses from five teaching and treatment hospitals in Kermanshah who were randomly selected. Data were collected by self-report questionnaire. Data were analyzed in the SPSS-16 software by using bivariate correlation, t-test, ANOVA, and linear regression statistical tests. Results The mean score for the prevention behaviors of HB was 3.14± 1.45, and the participants achieved 62.8% of the maximum obtainable score for the prevention behaviors of HB. TPB constructs were accounted for 22% of the variation in prevention behaviors of HB, F= 42.351, P< 0.001 and among the TPB constructs, attitude and perceived behavior control were the most influential predictors of doing prevention behaviors of HB. Conclusions This research provides a foundation for planning health promotion program to increase the prevention behaviors of HB. It seems our findings are useful in planning health promotion programs aimed at increasing attitude and perceived behavior control to increase the prevention behaviors of HB.