Concept of lay beliefs about healthcare and illness

Question 1

Define lay belief?

Answer 1

Individual’s subjective and informal explanation for the world around them, that do not necessarily concur with scientific knowledge

Question 2

Describe how the health belief model is used to create lay beliefs?

Answer 2

Individual’s health/illness behaviour is based on their own perceptions of perceived susceptibility to disease, severity, benefits and barriers of action

Question 3

What sources of information does an individual use to create lay beliefs and learn health/illness behaviour?

Answer 3

Learned in childhood

Social media

Conversations with other individuals

Question 4

If someone has a lay belief that they have low susceptibility to a particular disease, how do they tend to react when others tell them to see the doctor?

Answer 4

They believe that they are not susceptible so will deny being at risk, and will think that seeing GP isn’t necessary