Health Belief Model Flashcards
What is health belief model?
A decision to change (or not) health-related behaviors. This depends on your belifs about health/ill health
Who is the health belief model by?
Rosenstock
What does the health belief model include?
Perceived seriousness
Perceived susceptibility
Cost-benefit analysis
Modifying factors (demographic variables, cues to action, self efficacy)
What is percieved seriousness?
How serious are the consequences of illness.
Also need to think about if consequences of not changing serious for family work ect.
Read example from book.
What is perceived susceptibility?
How likely am i to get the illness?
If i am likely i will change.
E.g i believe HIV only affect gay men. I am not gay so i percieve myself as unsusceptible to the disease.
What is cost benefit analysis?
If benefits outweigh the costs( barriers) .
Read example in book
Give 3 modifying factors
Demographic variables
Cues to action
Self efficacy
What is demographic variables?
Age, gender, culture ect. affect percieved seriousness, percieved susceptibility and cost benefit analysis.
E.g a younger man believes he is more at risk to HIV than an older man
What is cues to action?
Cues increase or decrease health beliefs/perceptions about a persons percieved seriousness and susceptiblity.
Imtenal cues include previous experience of symptoms.
External cues include advice, media campaigns.
What is selff effecacy?
A persons belief in their ability to change their behaviour. E.g someone who believs they cant use a condom had low self efficacy so is less likely to do so.
Strength
Helath belief model was developed by health practitioners who worked directly with people who wanted to change health related behaviours.
So model is based on real life experiences of health issues and behaviour change.
Health belief model is therefore credible explanation that patients and practicioners can accept.
Weakness
Health belief model assumes we make rational health decisions.
For example it assumes we weigh the cost and benefit of an action as well ad susceptibility and seriousness
In reality emotions it is unlikely we do this and emotions play a more significant role when we are making healthy or unhealthy choices.
Suggests psychological factors are more important in vehaviour change than those in HBM
