Path analysis of skin cancer preventive behaviors in rural women based on protection motivation theory

Abstract

Background: Determining the factors that affect the adoption of preventive behaviors that can reduce the risk of skin cancer is an important first step for designing interventions promoting these behaviors. The present study was conducted aimed to path analysis of skin cancer preventive behaviors in rural women based on protection motivation theory. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 230 rural women in the west of Iran were selected randomly. Data were collected by a valid and reliable questionnaire including demographic information and structures of protection motivation theory by interview with rural women and then analyzed using SPSS 22 and LISREL8.8. Results: In relation with skin cancer preventive behaviors, 27.8% of women wore sun-blocking clothing when working under the sun, 21.7% used sunscreen cream, 5.7% wore cap and 4.8 wore gloves and sunglasses. Protection motivation theory and per capita income explained 76% of motivation variance and 25% of the variance of skin cancer preventive behaviors. Response efficacy structure was the strongest predictor of the motivation of protection (0/001> p, ß= -0.44) and per capita income (0/001> p, ß= -0.34) and motivation (0/001> p, ß= -0.33) were the strongest predictors of these behaviors. Conclusions: This study showed that protection motivation theory is efficient in predicting preventive behaviors of skin cancer and promoting interventions of the behaviors can be designed and implemented by this theory. It is also necessary to perform proper planning in promoting these behaviors in people with low per-capita income.