A3: Health Belief Model Flashcards
What is the Health Belief Model (HBM)?
The HBM, developed by Rosenstock in 1966, is a psychological theory explaining why people choose to engage in healthy behaviours. It suggests behaviour is influenced by beliefs about health and illness.
What are the three main questions that summarize the Health Belief Model?
- How serious are the consequences of the disease/illness (perceived seriousness)?
- How likely am I to get the disease/illness (perceived susceptibility)?
- What are the costs versus benefits of taking a specific action?
What is “perceived seriousness” in the HBM?
It refers to how severe a person believes the consequences of an illness or condition will be if they do not act, influencing whether they engage in preventive behaviours.
Give an example of “perceived seriousness” in action.
For example, a person may not use a condom because they perceive the risk of contracting an illness like chlamydia as low. This belief affects their likelihood of taking protective measures.
What does “perceived susceptibility” mean in the HBM?
It is the individual’s perception of their personal risk of contracting an illness. If they don’t see themselves as vulnerable, they are less likely to take preventive actions.
Provide an example of “perceived susceptibility” affecting behaviour.
A heterosexual person may not consider themselves at risk for HIV because they wrongly believe it only affects gay men, leading to a lack of condom use.
What role does cost-benefit analysis play in the HBM?
Individuals weigh the perceived benefits of a health action against the perceived barriers or costs of taking that action.
How do “demographic variables” act as modifying factors in the HBM?
Factors like age, gender, culture, and beliefs about health risks can influence an individual’s perception of risk and decision to take preventive actions.
What are “cues to action” in the HBM?
These are external or internal triggers that motivate individuals to change behaviour, such as symptoms, media campaigns, or advice from healthcare providers.
Define “self-efficacy” in the context of the HBM.
It is the belief in one’s own ability to successfully perform a behaviour, which is crucial for initiating and maintaining health actions.
What is one strength of the Health Belief Model?
The HBM has practical applications in developing interventions to change health-related behaviours by focusing on factors like perceived severity, susceptibility, and benefits. The HBM was used to design a program to increase cancer screening. By highlighting the benefits and reducing perceived barriers, the program increased awareness and screening rates.
What is a major criticism or weakness of the Health Belief Model?
The HBM assumes that people make rational decisions about their health, whereas many health decisions are influenced by emotional or irrational factors. The model may overlook situations where people act based on emotions rather than calculated costs and benefits, which can limit its effectiveness in predicting behaviour.
