The effect of health ambassadors’ training based on social cognitive theory on brucellosis preventive behaviors in rural areas: Randomized controlled trial

Background: Brucellosis is still a serious public health threat and an endemic disease in Iran. Despite eradication programs, it is a major challenging issue for human health. This study examined the effect of health ambassadors’ training based on social cognitive theory on brucellosis preventive behaviors in rural areas. Methods: : This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial. The intervention program was performed in two steps. Step 1: Training of health ambassadors by the researcher and Step 2: Training of village residents by health ambassadors.120 residents of rural areas of Mashhad were selected from two villages using two-stage random sampling and were assigned to two intervention and control groups. Results: : The mean age of the participants in the intervention group was 33.9±90.97 years. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of constructs of knowledge, outcome expectations, outcome value, self-efficacy, self-efficacy in overcoming obstacles, self-regulation, emotional adjustment, and behavior measurement after the intervention compared to before intervention(p <0.0001). Conclusion: The results indicated that training programs based on SCT can be effective in improving brucellosis preventive behaviors. The training interventions that are designed to educate health ambassadors and villagers using social cognitive theory with a focus on individual, cognitive, environmental, and behavioral factors can improve behaviors that prevent brucellosis. Trial registration: This trial has been registered by the title of “The effect of health ambassadors’ training based on social cognitive theory on brucellosis preventive behaviors in rural areas: a randomized control trial” in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) with code “I IRCT20220204053935N1”, https://www.irct.ir/trial/47529. The registration date is May 18, 2022.