Effectiveness of a Health Belief Model-Based Program on the Consumption of Sweetened Beverages among Health Science Students

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study with a two-group pretest-posttest design aimed to examine the effectiveness of a Health Belief Model-based program on the consumption of sweetened beverages among health science students. The sample consisted of 66 students from Sirindhorn College of Public Health Phitsanulok. The two curricula were randomly designated as the experimental and control groups by drawing lots. Subsequently, 33 students from each curriculum were selected by simple random sampling without replacement. The experimental group participated in a four-week Health Belief Model-based program designed to improve sweetened beverage consumption behaviors, whereas the control group continued their usual routines by attending regular classes or engaging in self-directed learning activities. Data were collected between December 2024 and February 2025 using self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, and paired samples t-test were employed for data analysis. The results showed that, before the intervention, the mean scores of health beliefs and sweetened beverage consumption behaviors did not differ between the experimental and control groups (MD=0.06, 95% CI=-0.01-0.12 and MD=0.06, 95% CI=−0.09-0.21, respectively). After the intervention, the mean scores of health beliefs and sweetened beverage consumption behaviors differed significantly between the experimental and control groups at the 0.05 level (MD=2.11, 95% CI=2.01-2.23 and MD=2.15, 95% CI=1.95-2.36, respectively), with the experimental group having higher mean scores than the control group. In addition, within the experimental group, the post-intervention mean scores of health beliefs and sweetened beverage consumption behaviors differed significantly from the pre-intervention scores at the 0.05 level (MD=−2.08, 95% CI=−2.20-−1.97 and MD=−2.12, 95% CI=−2.35-−1.89, respectively), with the post-intervention mean scores being higher than the pre-intervention scores. In contrast, within the control group, the mean scores of health beliefs and sweetened beverage consumption behaviors did not differ from the pre-intervention scores (MD=−0.03, 95% CI=−0.07-0.03 and MD=−0.03, 95% CI=−0.15-0.10, respectively). These findings indicate that effective modification of sweetened beverage consumption behaviors requires the development of accurate health beliefs.