Objective: To evaluate the impact of health education intervention on promoting rural residents to join new rural cooperative medical system (NCMS) and their intention of joining NCMS based on Health Belief Model in project areas in Henan and Jilin Provinces.
Methods: Quasi-experiment study was used to evaluate intervention impact. Following the evidence-based approach, according to needs assessment, a half-year health education intervention was implemented among farmers in the experimental counties in Henan and Jilin Provinces respectively. A questionnaire survey was conducted among farmers in intervention and control counties before and after intervention, and intervention impact was evaluated by comparing the indicators' changes in intervention and control counties.
Results: After health education intervention, the knowledge level of farmers in two intervention counties increased by 29.0% and 37.8% respectively, their scores of perceived threatens of health risk and perceived barriers of joining NCMS among the respondents were decreased. Meanwhile, their score of perceived benefit of joining NCMS were increased, and the rate of willingness to join NCMS increased remarkably in both intervention counties.
Conclusion: Health education was effective and helpful in increasing farmer's knowledge, understanding and cognitive level of NCMS, and it should play an important role for the sustainable development of NCMS.