Background: Pender's Health Promotion Model is a theory commonly used in health education programs to effectively predict health behaviors. This study also investigates the predictors of common cancer prevention behaviors in women based on the Pender model.
Methods: This study employed a correlational design using structural equation modeling. The research setting included all subordinate units of the Deputy Health Department, the Deputy Medical Department, and the central organization affiliated with Dezful University of Medical Sciences. A total of 299 employed women participated in the study. The exclusion criterion was incomplete questionnaire responses. Data collection tools included demographic questionnaires, measures of knowledge and behaviors in women, and all constructs of Pender's Health Promotion Model. Data were analyzed using SPSS and STATA softwares, with a significance level set at 0.05.
Findings: The mean score for breast and cervical cancer awareness was 22.18 (range: 0-29), and the mean score for performing preventive behaviors was 8.31 (range: 4-20). Scores for Pender’s Health Promotion Model constructs were as follows: perceived self-efficacy, 16.99 (range: 4-20); perceived benefits, 11.19 (range: 4-20); perceived barriers, 23.59 (range: 11-55); feelings related to behavior, 42.69 (range: 11-55); impact of interpersonal influencers, 16.88 (range: 6-30); situational influencers, 11.97 (range: 4-20); commitment to behavior, 12.54 (range: 4-20); preferences and immediate demands, 4.88 (range: -10 to 2); and previous related behavior, 16.09 (range: 5-25). Preventive behavior showed no significant relationship with awareness (P > 0.05). However, breast and cervical cancer screening behaviors had a significant direct relationship with Pender model constructs (P < 0.05, r = 0.035-0.5644), except for perceived barriers, which had a significant inverse relationship (P < 0.05, r = -0.295).
Conclusion: Awareness of breast and cervical cancer among women has been satisfactory; however, engagement in cancer prevention behaviors remains inadequate. It is essential for staff at comprehensive health service centers to focus more on referring women to screening programs and to develop strategies that encourage preventive behaviors. Barriers to performing these behaviors include the cost of examinations, fear of undergoing a Pap smear, lack of knowledge about the procedure, insufficient information about examination centers, and negative perceptions. Therefore, health service staff should prioritize facilitating referrals to screening programs and promoting preventive actions among women.