Effects of self-modifying program for pesticide protection in farmers having blood test at risk and unsafe levels by applying health belief model

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research was a one-group pretest-posttest design. It was aimed to investigate the effect of self-modifying program for pesticide protection in farmers having blood test at risk and unsafe levels by applying health belief model. The study was conducted in 35 farmers at Moo.1, Tambol Khoa Kan Song, Sriracha District, Chonburi. Research instruments were 1) self-modifying program for pesticide protection in farmers having blood test at risk and unsafe levels from 14  January to 19 February 2020, and 2) questionnaire about knowledge, perceiving, and behavior. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including percentage, mean, standard deviation, and paired sample t-test to test the hypothesis at the statistical significance (p<0.05).

The results showed that after joining the program, the participants had higher scores for knowledge scores, perceiving, and behavior than before joining the program (d knowledge = 1.77, d perceiving = 3.60, and d behavior = 4.08, successively). When testing the hypothesis, there was statistically significant (p<0.05). Hence, it could be concluded that applying the health belief model can help improve perceiving for self-protection from pesticide in farmers. The health communication, therefore, shall be
promoted continuously to reduce risky behaviors in farmer group.