The Effect of Education Given to International University Students in Line With the Health Belief Model on Health Perception and Risky Behaviors

The Effect of Education Given to International University Students in Line With the HBM on Health Perception and Risky Behaviors: A Randomized Controlled Study

The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Health is a process in which individuals adapt to environmental changes, and this process is influenced by beliefs, experiences, and health behaviors. Health perception is a combination of an individual's thoughts about their own health and is a significant indicator of both physical and mental well-being. University students enter a new phase of life that can affect their health perceptions, during which they may experience health problems associated with factors such as stress, physical activity, and nutrition. International students, in particular, may encounter additional challenges during the cultural adaptation process and may engage in risky behaviors that affect their health behaviors.The Health Belief Model (HBM) is a framework used to understand and modify individuals' health behaviors. This study examines the effectiveness of an HBM-based educational intervention in evaluating international students' health perceptions and risky behaviors. While the literature supports the effectiveness of HBM-based education in reducing risky behaviors, there is a lack of randomized controlled trials conducted specifically with international students.This study, to be conducted with international students at Sakarya University, aims to improve students' health perceptions and reduce risky behaviors. The research is designed as a randomized controlled trial with pre-test/post-test, single-blind, experimental and control groups. It is expected that the HBM-based educational intervention delivered to the experimental group will enhance international university students' health perceptions and reduce their likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors.Data collection tools include the "Health Perception Scale" and the "Risky Behaviors Scale - University Form". Data obtained in the study will be analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) for Windows 22.0 software.

Inclusion Criteria:- To study at Sakarya University as an international student

• To have passed the Turkish language proficiency (speaking Turkish at C1 level)
• Volunteering and giving consent to participate in the research
• Being open to communication and cooperation
• No diagnosed psychiatric illness
• Scoring below the average scale score of the sample group for the "Health Perception Scale" and above the average scale score of the sample group for each sub-dimension of the "Risky Behaviors Scale University Form" scale-

Exclusion Criteria:- To study at Sakarya University as an international student

• To have passed the Turkish language proficiency (speaking Turkish at C1 level)
• Volunteering and giving consent to participate in the research
• Being open to communication and cooperation
• No diagnosed psychiatric illness
• Scoring below the average scale score of the sample group for the "Health Perception Scale" and above the average scale score of the sample group for each sub-dimension of the "Risky Behaviors Scale University Form" scale