Health Belief Model-Based Evaluation of Pap Smear Screening Behavior among Female Medical University Employees in Iran

Introduction: Despite the national program of Pap smear test for detecting cervical abnormalities, performing this screening is undesirable. The present study aimed to evaluate the status of Pap smear screening and its determinants based on the health belief model (HBM). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study accomplished among 308 female employees aged 30 to 59 years at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, RUMS (southern Iran) using simple random sampling in 2024. The data collection tool was a questionnaire based on HBM constructs and the self-report method. The data were analyzed using SPSS-24 software with the chi-square and independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Multiple Logistic Regression at a significant level of 0.05. Findings: 57.5% of the samples had performed this screening. Women who underwent cervical cancer screening had higher perceived benefits and self-efficacy and lower perceived barriers (P<0.001). The constructs of perceived barriers (OR=0.850, P<0.001, 95% C.I;0.812-0.889), years of marriage (OR=1.146, P<0.001, 95% C.I; 1.079-1.217), and perceived severity (OR=1.107, P=0.008, 95% C.I;1.027-1.193) were predictors of cervical cancer screening (P<0.01), respectively, meaning that with a rise of one score in perceived barriers, the likelihood of screening increases by 15%, with an rise of one score in perceived severity, the likelihood of screening increases by 10.7%, and after more than a year of marriage, the likelihood of screening increases by 14.6%. Conclusion: Accordingly, identifying perceived barriers and designing and implementing interventions to encourage screening behavior based on behavior change theories such as the health belief model recommended.