Critical Elements: Health Belief Model
Rosenstock (1990) identified the critical elements of the Health Belief Model (HBM) as perceived susceptibility, perceived severity or seriousness, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and cues to action (as cited in McEwen & Wills, 2011, p. 290). “In 1998, Rosenstock added another concept to the HBM, which he identified as self-efficacy” (McEwen & Wills, 2011, p.291). Collectively, these elements produce the framework for individual behavior regarding health. Perceived susceptibility and perceived severity are influenced by individual perception. Factors that can influence individual perception include age, sex, ethnicity, education, personality, and socioeconomic status. These factors determine individual perception of risk level for becoming infected with a disease or developing a chronic illness, as well the severity of
a disease or illness. The higher the perceived risk and severity, the more likely it is that an individual will adapt new healthy behaviors. “The construct of perceived benefits is a person’s opinion of the value or usefulness of a new behavior in decreasing the risk of developing a disease” (Health Belief Model, ch.4, p.32). In contrast, perceived barriers are circumstances which will hinder or prevent an individual’s attempts to adapt healthy behaviors. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2004) reported “in order
for a new behavior to be adopted, a person needs to believe the benefits of the new behavior outweigh the consequences of continuing the old behavior” (as cited in Health Belief Model, ch.4, p.33). By considering perceived benefits and perceived barriers an individual makes a cognitive decision to change or not change their behavior. “Cues to action are events, people, or things that move people to change their behavior” (Health Belief Model, ch.4, p.33). Equally important is the concept of self-efficacy, which is an
individual’s belief in their competency to adapt new healthy behaviors. In the example of the relationship between perceived barriers and self-efficacy, a 40 year old female patient is being educated on the benefits of monthly breast self-examination (BSE) as a way of detecting early signs of breast cancer. This patient would need to overcome
perceived barriers by believing they are able to do a BSE and thus the patient would practice monthly BSE and as a result the patient would adopt a new healthy behavior. In summary, according to the Health Belief Model, modifying variables, cues to action, and self-efficacy affect our perceptions of susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, and barriers and, therefore, our behavior (Health Belief Model, ch.4, p.35).
a disease or illness. The higher the perceived risk and severity, the more likely it is that an individual will adapt new healthy behaviors. “The construct of perceived benefits is a person’s opinion of the value or usefulness of a new behavior in decreasing the risk of developing a disease” (Health Belief Model, ch.4, p.32). In contrast, perceived barriers are circumstances which will hinder or prevent an individual’s attempts to adapt healthy behaviors. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2004) reported “in order
for a new behavior to be adopted, a person needs to believe the benefits of the new behavior outweigh the consequences of continuing the old behavior” (as cited in Health Belief Model, ch.4, p.33). By considering perceived benefits and perceived barriers an individual makes a cognitive decision to change or not change their behavior. “Cues to action are events, people, or things that move people to change their behavior” (Health Belief Model, ch.4, p.33). Equally important is the concept of self-efficacy, which is an
individual’s belief in their competency to adapt new healthy behaviors. In the example of the relationship between perceived barriers and self-efficacy, a 40 year old female patient is being educated on the benefits of monthly breast self-examination (BSE) as a way of detecting early signs of breast cancer. This patient would need to overcome
perceived barriers by believing they are able to do a BSE and thus the patient would practice monthly BSE and as a result the patient would adopt a new healthy behavior. In summary, according to the Health Belief Model, modifying variables, cues to action, and self-efficacy affect our perceptions of susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, and barriers and, therefore, our behavior (Health Belief Model, ch.4, p.35).