The College of Nursing at the University of Baghdad discussed a doctoral dissertation titled: “The Effectiveness of an Intervention Based on the Expanded Health Belief Model in Adopting Preventive Behaviors for Vascular Health Among University Students: A Controlled Randomized Trial,” by student Hassan Salih Hassan, under the supervision of Assistant Professor Dr. Aysan Muhammad Kamal Nouri, in the college’s main auditorium.
The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nursing intervention based on the Expanded Health Belief Model in promoting preventive cardiovascular health behaviors among university students, as well as to measure the impact of body mass index (BMI) categories on their response and the effectiveness of this intervention.
The thesis concluded that the intervention program contributed significantly to improving health beliefs and increasing motivation, self-efficacy, and social support, as well as activating decision-making motivators and positive behavioral intentions among students, thereby demonstrating the effectiveness of the Expanded Health Belief Model as a comprehensive approach to preventing cardiovascular disease in the university setting.
The study recommended that the intervention be generalized and applied to diverse population groups in Iraq to enhance the reliability of the results, and to integrate evidence-based cardiovascular prevention concepts into educational curricula using interactive methods, while emphasizing the complementary roles of community health nurses and the Ministries of Health and Higher Education and Scientific Research, and collaborating with media institutions and nongovernmental organizations to launch large-scale digital awareness campaigns via social media platforms. The researcher was awarded a Ph.D. with a grade of “Very Good.”
This dissertation aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, foremost among them Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by reducing risk factors for noncommunicable diseases and promoting healthy lifestyles among young people, Goal 4 (Quality Education) by utilizing clinical research and evidence-based interventions to improve the university environment, as well as Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering collaboration between the health, academic, and media sectors to serve the community.
