The Effect of Educational Intervention Based on the Transtheoretical Model on Stages of Change of Physical Activity in a Sample of Employees in Iran

Abstract

Background: Promotion of physical activity is one of the most effective strategies for reducing the risk of certain chronic and non-communicable diseases. Objectives: To investigate the effect of an educational intervention, based on the transtheoretical model of stages of change of physical activity, on the employees of Abu Musa Island, in the south of Iran. Materials and Methods: Different offices of Abu Musa Island including those for health, education, municipalities, civil, government, telecommunications, and welfare were divided randomly into intervention and control groups such that three offices were in intervention group and the rest were in control group. Forty employees were randomly selected from each group intervention and control and asked to complete survey questionnaires before, three, and six months after the educational intervention based on transtheoretical model. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 19. Sample t-test, repeated measure analysis and Wilcoxon tests were used to analyze the data. Results: Stages of change of physical activity in the intervention group changed significantly three (P < 0.01) and six months (P < 0.04) after intervention in comparison with before intervention; however, there was no significant changes in stages of change of physical activity in control group. Three months after the intervention, perceived benefits and self-efficacy for exercise improved significantly (P < 0.05) in the intervention group. Further, the self-efficacy mean score six months after the intervention was significantly higher than pre-intervention (P < 0.01). However, no change was observed in control group. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that an educational intervention based on transtheoretical model can improve stages of change in physical activity behavior. It can also enhance cognitive factors such as perceived benefits and self-efficacy for exercise up to three months after the intervention, but over the time changes may decrease.