Physical activity (PA) is a key to maintain health, and has several advantages such as preventing or lowering the threat of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and diabetes[1, 2]. Furthermore, it helps to improve mental health, helps to manage stress, lower anxiety and depression, raise self-confidence and feelings of collaborative work and academic performance [3, 4].
Despite all the convincing evidence on the benefits of physical activities, healthy adults often have inadequate physical activity [5]. According to the reports of World Health Organization (WHO), About 3.2 million mortalities that occur annually are accounted for by inadequate physical activity. Moreover, in all WHO Regions, men showed to be more active than women. The widest divergence lay in the prevalence of the two sexes in Eastern Mediterranean region. It was true for about every country [6].
In the United States, a total rate of 8.3% of mortalities were attributed to insufficient levels of physical activity[7]. As revealed by the most recent Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, Kentucky was found with the highest percentage of inactivity reported in adults at a rate of 32.3%[8].
As estimated by WHO, the rate of physical activity in Iranian population is about 34% and, if this rate continues, it is predicted to reach about 50% by 2020 [9]. The results obtained from a national survey by WHO in Iran indicated that, the prevalence of physical inactivity in urban and rural areas, with an emphasis on exercising in leisure time, among 15-64 year-old men and women was respectively 76.3% and 58.8 [10]. Moreover, a review research reported the prevalence of inactivity in Iran as 30-70% [11]. A body of related research in Iran show the essentiality of a well-organized and systematic education for different classes of society to raise their awareness of the advantages of physical activity, pave the way for a healthy life-style and integrate more physical activity in routine life [12-15].
Theories and models of health behaviour
The value of health education and health promotion programs depends on their effectiveness, which in turn, depends on a proper use of existing models and theories of health education and promotion. In order to have an effective and beneficial intervention in physical activity, having a proper behaviour change model is vital. Different investigations have shown that most effective educational programs are based on theoretical approaches that are rooted in behaviour change models. Selecting the right model or theory is the primary step in the planning of educational programs [16].
Stages of behaviour change model
The model of stages of behaviour change is a model of behaviour change that has a key algorithmic framework. The assumption of this model is that people can be categorized at different stages of preparation for behaviour change. Thus, to change their behaviour, they go through five different stages, including pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. Pre-contemplation occurs when a person does not think about changing a behaviour for at least the next 6 months. Contemplation is when a person seriously thinks about changing a behaviour within 6 months, but he/she is not yet prepared to do so. In the preparation stage, a person seriously considers changing a behaviour and aims to make a big change in near future. In the action stage, a person has made appropriate changes to his/her life-style in the past 6 months. The maintenance stage is marked by sustained behaviour change for more than 6 months, but it requires more active and thoughtful attempts (Figure 1).
“Health Belief Model (HBM)” as a theoretical framework for intervention
The health belief model has been used to explain healthy behaviour and physical activity in different studies [17, 18]. According to HBM, perceived threat to health is influenced by general health values (interest in and concern about health) and believing in vulnerability towards a health threat and consequences of a health problem. Once people perceive a threat to their health, they begin to act (internally or externally), and if they perceive the benefits to be more than the barriers, they will most probably take a preventive action [19].
Hormozgan province in terms of Medical facilities is considered as the most disadvantage province of Iran. Considering the lack of diagnostic facilities, lack of education, and ignorance towards the principles of prevention, [20, 21]. Therefore, in this study, we planned to strategically employ the validated health behaviour concepts (in HBM) alongside the domain-specific knowledge scales to readiness to become or stay physically active.