The Becker et al. Study 1978

Aim

To use the health belief model to explain mothers' adherence to asthma treatment for their children.

Procedure

Mothers were interviewed about their children's health and asthma treatment. Blood samples were use to measure compliance with asthma treatment.

Finding 1

• positive correlation was found between mothers' beliefs about the seriousness of asthma and compliance with treatment, and between beliefs about susceptibility to an attack and adherence.

Finding 2

Mothers who thought that the costs (disadvantages) of asthma attacks included disruption of schooling and of their own activities were more compliant.

Finding 3

Barriers were: scheduling treatment, disruption of normal activities, difficulties assessing prescriptions and taste of the medicine.

Finding 4

Being married and educated (demographic variables) were associated with compliance.

Conclusion

All of the major health belief model components were good predictors of health-related behaviour.
As the findings supports Becker's assumptions that the four components of the HBM affect health related behaviour.

Strength of the study

• multiple methods were used to collect data, increasing reliability. (interviews, blood tests)
• mothers could and did withdraw their participation which was ethical.
• Shows ways that health behaviours can be predicted and improved.

Weaknesses of the study

• correlational information was gathered in the method. As this only shows a relationshiprelationship it's difficult to ascertain cause and effects.
• children were at risk if mother thought they had loads acceptability to asthma attacks, which was not ethical
• only mothers participated which reduced generalisability to all families.

Application

• a mum perceived her sons asthma as serious, supporting Becker's et al's findings that perceived seriousness correlated with high compliance.
• family history suggest the boy is susceptible, supporting Becker's findings that susceptibility and compliance correlate.