Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the effects of the transtheoretical model based education on physical activity of the selected areas of Tehran municipality councils' members. METHODS: This is a semi-experimental, controlled. non-equivalent study. In this study 68 city council workers (two groups of 34) from two different districts of Tehran participated. District17 was used as the intervention group, with district20 serving as the control group. Data gathering was performed through 3 tools consisting of a demographic questionnaire, the international physical activity questionnaire and a self-made questionnaire which aimed to assess the process of change, self-efficacy and decision balance. Based on the results of the study, an educational program consisting of 4 sessions was performed for all groups.1 and 6 months after the intervention, the same questionnaires were completed by the both groups and the data were analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistics. RESULTS: A significant difference observed in the mean score of physical activity before and six months after education in the intervention group (P<0.001). The mean scores of self-efficacy, stage of change, process of change and . perceived barriers were also significantly different after education (P<0.001). There was no meaningful difference regarding physical activity or the mean scores of model components in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that planning an implementation of educational interventions based on the Trans theoretical model can have a positive effect on physical activity. Therefore the use of this model in educational programs for promotion of an active lifestyle is recommended.