Jan. 29_Health Belief Model

Individual Health Behavior Theories: Health Belief Model (HBM)

Page 1

  • Title: Individual Health Behavior Theories: Health Belief Model (HBM)

  • Course: KINS 3363

Page 2: Considerations

  • Reflect on health behaviors of interest regarding behavior change.

  • Consider how HBM can facilitate positive changes in health behaviors.

Page 3: Origins of the Health Belief Model

  • Developed in the 1950s by social psychologists Irwin Rosenstock and Godfrey Hochbaum.

  • Created to address low participation in tuberculosis screening despite available mobile resources.

  • Extended the model to analyze behavioral responses to disease detection opportunities.

  • HBM focuses on understanding the causal processes behind health behaviors before attempting to change them.

  • Reference: Rosenstock, I.M. (1966). Why people use health services. The Milbank Memorial Fund quarterly.

Page 4: Historical Perspectives

  • HBM is classified as a value expectancy model.

  • Suggests behavior correlates with two main variables:

    1. Value: Importance placed on an outcome.

      • Example: Value of avoiding illness.

    2. Expectancy: Probability that an action will achieve the desired outcome.

      • Example: Belief that a health action can prevent illness.

Page 5: 6 HBM Constructs

  1. Perceived Susceptibility

  2. Perceived Severity

  3. Perceived Benefits

  4. Perceived Barriers

  5. Cues to Action

  6. Self-Efficacy

Page 6: Modifying Variables

  • These variables impact an individual's baseline for perceived benefits/barriers, threat, and self-efficacy.

  • Modifying variables can include:

    • Demographic factors (age, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status).

    • Access to healthcare and cultural influences.

  • Modifying variables are distinct from HBM constructs but influence them.

Page 7: Perceived Susceptibility

  • Definition: Belief about the likelihood of acquiring a disease or condition.

  • Variations in perception exist; more susceptibility leads to increased likelihood of preventive action.

  • Spectrum:

    • Not at all likely ➔ Very likely

Page 8: Perceived Severity

  • Definition: Belief in the seriousness of a disease if untreated.

  • Individual perceptions of severity vary widely; higher perceived severity increases likelihood of preventive actions.

  • Spectrum:

    • Not serious ➔ Very serious

Page 9: Perceived Threat or Risk

  • Interaction of perceived susceptibility and perceived severity defines perceived threat.

  • Greater perceived threat correlates with higher likelihood of preventive actions.

Page 10: Perceived Benefits

  • Definition: Beliefs regarding the value of preventive action in reducing risk or seriousness.

  • Benefits can be health-related (e.g., smoking cessation reduces cancer risk) or non-health-related (e.g., saving money).

  • Spectrum:

    • Not valued ➔ Highly valued

Page 11: Perceived Barriers

  • Definition: Beliefs about the costs of following preventive behavior.

  • Barriers can be tangible (time, money) or psychological (fear, anxiety).

  • Spectrum:

    • Surmountable ➔ Insurmountable

Page 12: Perceived Benefits to Barriers Ratio

  • Positive actions depend on perceived benefits outweighing perceived barriers.

  • HBM emphasizes promoting benefits and understanding barriers to encourage preventive action.

Page 13: Cues to Action

  • Definition: Triggers that stimulate action towards health behavior.

  • Can be:

    • Internal (e.g., feeling symptoms)

    • External (e.g., media influence, physician recommendations).

  • Cues to action are noted as the least defined construct in HBM.

Page 14: Cue Intensity

  • Cue intensity based on threat level:

    • High threat ➔ Low intensity needed for action.

    • Low threat ➔ High intensity needed for action.

Page 15: Self-Efficacy

  • Definition: Confidence in one's ability to perform a health behavior.

  • Involves knowledge and skills; essential for successful behavior execution.

  • Spectrum:

    • Confident ➔ Unconfident

Page 16: HBM Summary

  • Actions are taken if:

    • Belief in susceptibility.

    • Belief in severity of condition.

    • Perception of benefits versus barriers.

    • Presence of cues to action.

    • Confidence in executing behavior.

Page 17: Strengths & Limitations of HBM

  • Strengths:

    • Useful in health education and promotion.

    • Applicable in primary and secondary prevention.

  • Limitations:

    • May not support long-term behavior change.

    • Limited predictive power due to a narrow focus.

    • Perceived barriers often the strongest predictors but challenging to influence.

Page 18: HBM Applications

  • Widely utilized theoretical framework in health behavior:

    1. Research modeling and instrument development.

    2. Primary prevention education.

    3. Secondary prevention and disease screening compliance.

Page 19: Skin Cancer Screening Factors

  • Factors influencing perception of:

    • Susceptibility to skin cancer.

    • Severity of skin cancer consequences.

    • Self-efficacy regarding scheduling and adhering to screenings.

    • Perceived benefits and barriers to screening.

    • External prompts for action.

Page 20: Key Concepts and Definitions of HBM

  • Perceived susceptibility: Experience risk assessment.

  • Perceived severity: Assessment of disease impacts.

  • Perceived benefits: Defined actions and expected positive outcomes.

  • Perceived barriers: Identification and mitigation of barriers.

  • Cues to action: Activation strategies for engagement.

  • Self-efficacy: Training and reinforcement for desired actions.

Page 21: Takeaways HBM Constructs

  • Definitions summary:

    • Perceived Susceptibility: Likelihood of condition.

    • Perceived Severity: Seriousness of untreated condition.

    • Perceived Benefits: Positive health action aspects.

    • Perceived Barriers: Negative aspects of health actions.

    • Cues to Action: Triggers for behavior initiation.

    • Self-Efficacy: Confidence in behavior execution.