role of health beliefs in preventive behaviors of individuals at risk of cardiovascular diseases

years of age worldwide (39%). also in iran it is the cause of 45% of deaths. cardiovascular diseases place a huge social, economic and health burden on the society. patients suffer from this disease when they are at their highest social and economic productivity. the risk of this disease is related to modifiable factors such as smoking and high blood pressure, and also non-modifiable factors such as age and family history. this study aimed to investigate the role of health beliefs in preventive behaviors of individuals at risk of cardiovascular diseases. methods: this descriptive and analytical study was conducted on 100 people with 30 to 65 years of age at risk of cardiovascular disease who attended to yazd khatamolanbiyae clinic, iran in 2011. data gathering tool was a questionnaire based on constructs of health belief model including knowledge questions and preventive behaviors. findings: participants’ mean age was 43.7 ± 9.6 years. 56% were female, most of them were housewives (43%), 93% of them were married and most of them (37%) did not complete secondary education. mean score of perceived severity was 23 ± 2.4 (out of 25), perceived susceptibility was 15 ± 2.6 (out of 20), perceived barriers were 20.7 ± 4.4 (out of 30), perceived benefits were 27.05 ± 3.45 (out of 30), knowledge was 22.7 ± 4.9 (out of 33) and preventive behaviors of cardiovascular diseases were 18.11 ± 3.71 (out of 25). pearson correlation showed statistically significant correlation (p < 0.05) between perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self efficacy and knowledge with preventive behaviors. conclusion: results indicated lack of correlation of perceived susceptibility and perceived severity with preventive behaviors and correlation of perceived benefit, perceived barriers, self-efficacy and knowledge with behaviors. educational programs based on health belief model should be performed with emphasis on aspects which have more effectiveness on preventive behaviors.   keyword: health belief model, cardiovascular disease, prevention, people at risk