Using health educators to improve knowledge of healthy behaviour among Hajj 1432 (2011) pilgrims.

The main objective of this study was to assess the short-term effect on health knowledge among pilgrims after being provided specific health education messages. A random sample of 6 entry-point buses was selected. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess knowledge before and after intervention; 278 pilgrims completed the questionnaire. There was a significant increase in the proportion of participants who answered all questions correctly after the educational intervention (P < 0.05). Almost all respondents stated that they benefited from the health education and that the health educator was successful in delivering the messages. Only 19 (7.2%) reported that they had already received relevant health education messages prior to their arrival in Saudi Arabia. Before the intervention just 50% of the respondents knew that safe shaving prevents dissemination of bloodborne diseases; this rose to 84.7% after the intervention. Direct health education to pilgrims is effective in improving short-term health knowledge.