Empowering Women Through Health Belief Model–Based Education on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a Health Belief Model (HBM)–based educational intervention in improving knowledge, beliefs, and self-care practices among women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted at Kafr El-Sheikh University Hospital, Egypt, from January to June 2022. A purposive sample of 300 women clinically diagnosed with PCOS participated. The intervention comprised eight educational sessions (theoretical and practical), delivered over six months. Data were collected pre- and post-intervention using a validated questionnaire assessing HBM constructs: perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and cues to action. Data analysis was performed using SPSS v26.0 with paired t-tests, chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests.
Findings: Pre-intervention, a high proportion of participants demonstrated negative health beliefs across all domains (e.g., perceived susceptibility: 75.3%, cues to action: 73.3%). Post-intervention, there were significant improvements in all HBM constructs (p < 0.001), with 83.3% of participants showing positive total HBM scores. Significant associations were found between HBM scores and sociodemographic factors such as age, education, and income.
Conclusion: The HBM-based educational program significantly enhanced participants’ health beliefs related to PCOS. The intervention proved effective across various sociodemographic groups, supporting its applicability in diverse, resource-limited settings to empower women through improved health literacy and self-management.
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