HEALTH BELIEF MODEL (1950S)

Question 1

What is the Health Belief Model?

Answer 1

a psychological theory that explains why people do or do not adhere medical advice. It suggests adherence is more likely if the individual believes they are at risk of a serious health problem, believe in the efficacy of the treatment, and feel the benefits of following the advice outweigh the barriers.

Question 2

When was the Health Belief Model created?

Answer 2

1950’s by American social psychologists (Rosenstock & Hochbaum)

Question 3

Why was it developed?

Answer 3

Created in the U.S. to understand low participation in free TB screening programs

Question 4

What is the aim of the HBM?

Answer 4

To explain why people do or do not adhere to medical advice and take preventive health actions

Question 5

Name the 6 key aspects of the Health Belief model

Answer 5

“Some Silly Bees Buzz Everywhere Constantly”

S – Susceptibility

S – Severity

B – Benefits

B – Barriers

C – Cues to action

E – Self-efficacy

Question 6

Define ‘percieved severity’ ?

Answer 6

The severity or seriousness the individual associates with the risk of suffering from a health problem.

How likely do I think I am to get the illness or experience the health problem?
(patients are more likely to delay seeking treatment for ‘minor illnesses)

Question 7

Define percieved barriers?

Answer 7

The percieved barriers to treatment such as expense, effort, side effects or inconvience (living far from doctors).

Question 8

Define percieved ‘suceptability’?

Answer 8

How likely an individual believes they are in contracting an illness.

( ‘I don’t think I’m at risk of getting cancer’ -) patient does not attend screeings.

Question 8

Define ‘percieved benifits’?

Answer 8

The percieved beneifits or costs of the treatment (if the patient does not believe the change will beneifit them they are less likely to do it e.g taking meds)

Question 9

Define ‘cues to action’?

Answer 9

External stimuli or events that trigger changes in health behaviours.

(Hearing about a friend recieving a cancer diagnosis may incline the person to make better health decisions/ promote adherence to medical advice)

Question 10

Define ‘self-efficacy’?

Answer 10

Refers to an individuals beliefs in their ability or skill to make a health related change.

A person is more likely to delay seeking treatment if they feel they will not be able to get through the diagnosis or treatment process (go for testing, take meds on time)

Question 11

Name 1 strength and 1 weakness of the health belief model?

Answer 11

Strength (clinical utility): Helps doctors and health campaigns create interventions that target specific beliefs to improve adherence (e.g., reminding patients of benefits or reducing barriers).
Weakness: (reductionist): Dosen’t explain why people repeat unhealthy behaviours even if they belief in percieved benifits in changing, or that beliefs may change over time.

Question 12

Which study highlights the utility of the HBM in predicting adherence?

Answer 12

Becker & Rosenstock (1984)

Question 13

Becker & Rosenstock (1984) - aim, method, findings, conclusions

Answer 13

Aim= To investigate how the HBM predicts adhernece to medical treatments.

Results= Adherence increases:
if patients believe in percieved severity and susceptibility.
if patients believe in the health benefits of the treatment.
Cues to Action: Reminders or triggers (e.g., doctor’s advice) help prompt adherence.
Perceived Barriers: High barriers (cost, side effects) reduce adherence.