Background The reduction of mortality and improvement of health care services and life standards have enhanced the life expectancy among people. With increasing of aging, the rates of the health problems like injuries were increased among old people. Implementing injury-preventive interventions can be important for their health.

Objectives This study aims to determine the effect of educational intervention on injury prevention among 60–75 year old people in rural areas of Hamadan County, based on PRECEDE model.

Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted in rural areas of Hamadan, western part of Iran, in 2016. A number of 110 participants, who were 60–75 year old people and were in the catchment areas of the Hamadan health centers, took part in this study. Three training sessions and one reminding session, using the educational materials including educational booklet and movies, were performed for intervention group. The control group did not receive any training. Before intervention, the pre-test and two months after education, the post-test were done in both groups, in order to evaluate the educational intervention. Data collection was done through interview with the elderly, using the questionnaire. The data were analyzed by SPSS software.

Findings The results showed that the mean scores of PRECEDE model constructs including predisposing factors (knowledge and attitude), enabling factors, reinforcing factors, environmental factors and preventive behaviors from injuries in both groups did not have significant differences at the baseline, but they became different after intervention.

Conclusion Educational intervention in the field of injury prevention, based on PRECEDE model, can be effective on promoting preventive behaviors among rural old people.

Policy implications This study shows one example of an effective intervention which indicates that using the appropriate and context-based intervention can help policy makers to injury control and safety promotion among community.