Health Beliefs and Optimism as Predictors of Preventive Health Decisions in Hong Kong Chinese

2000 ◽  
Vol 86 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1059-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian C. L. Lai ◽  
P. Nicholas Hamid ◽  
Sheung Tak Cheng

The effects of components of the Health Belief Model and optimism on preventive intention were examined in 144 Hong Kong Chinese. Two variables related to the Health Belief Model, susceptibility and severity, were experimentally manipulated for an imaginary flu outbreak and a hypothetical vaccine. Participants indicated their intention to take the hypothetical vaccine after reading each of the 4 combinations of high versus low susceptibility and severity. Analysis suggested that both higher susceptibility and higher severity were associated with stronger behavioral intention to take the vaccine. Higher optimism scores were significantly associated with lower intention to take preventive action. In addition, a significant interaction was observed for optimism and severity. The effect of optimism was higher when severity was low than when it was high. Implications of these findings for research among Chinese were discussed.

2000 ◽  
Vol 86 (3_part_2) ◽  
pp. 1059-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian C. L. Lai ◽  
P. Nicholas Hamid ◽  
Sheung Tak Cheng

The effects of components of the Health Belief Model and optimism on preventive intention were examined in 144 Hong Kong Chinese. Two variables related to the Health Belief Model, susceptibility and severity, were experimentally manipulated for an imaginary flu outbreak and a hypothetical vaccine. Participants indicated their intention to take the hypothetical vaccine after reading each of the 4 combinations of high versus low susceptibility and severity. Analysis suggested that both higher susceptibility and higher severity were associated with stronger behavioral intention to take the vaccine. Higher optimism scores were significantly associated with lower intention to take preventive action. In addition, a significant interaction was observed for optimism and severity. The effect of optimism was higher when severity was low than when it was high. Implications of these findings for research among Chinese were discussed.


1999 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary A. Munley ◽  
Angus McLoughlin ◽  
Jeremy J. Foster

AbstractHealth-check attendance intention and behaviour in young men and women was compared, and the data used to determine whether health belief model constructs were able to predict such intentions and behaviour. Sixty male and sixty female respondents completed questionnaires asking about past health-check attendance behaviour, future attendance intention, and health beliefs. More females than males had previously attended a general health check, and females had stronger intentions to do so in the future. Regression analyses indicated that health-check attendance intention was predicted for both males and females by responses to cues to action. For females, previous health-check attendance was related to responses to cues to action and perceptions of barriers to attendance. None of the health belief model constructs was found to account for previous attendance behaviour of males. The results of the study support recent calls for health promotion initiatives aimed at men, but suggest that they should target cognitions other than those included within the health belief model.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 531-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilknur Aydin Avci ◽  
Busra Altinel

This study aimed to create a measurement tool for the determination of university students’ health beliefs about testicular cancer (TC) and self-examination. This is a methodological and cross-sectional study. The study sample included 425 university students. Consents and approvals were obtained from the relevant institutions and the ethics committee prior to the research. The data were collected using an interview form that included questions about descriptive characteristics, family history of TC, and knowledge, beliefs, and practice of self-examination. The health belief model including 41 questions about self-examination and the interview form were administered to the students in their classrooms at a suitable time. Principal components analysis and varimax rotation were used for the examination of the structures of the factors. Accordingly, factor patterns, self-values, and the variance percentages they explained were evaluated. The average age of the participants is 22.2 ± 2.3 (min = 17; max = 40). Of them, 98.8% of the participants are single ( n = 420). Of them, 56.2% have heard about TC before, and 18.4% said they were informed about TC. Factor loading of the items in the first factor was 0.64 to 0.89, while it was 0.48 to 0.75 for the items in the second factor, 0.50 to 0.87 for the items in the third factor, 0.37 to 0.68 for the items in the fourth factor, 0.51 to 0.68 for the items in the fifth factor, and 0.65 to 0.79 for the items in the sixth factor. The health belief model scale may be used in TC screenings for males to measure susceptibility, seriousness, health motivation, barriers, benefits, and self-efficacy.


Author(s):  
Tong Xia ◽  
Connor Grady ◽  
Michael Cacciatore ◽  
Glen Nowak

Based on previous studies about the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the reinforcing relationship between media selectivity or preference and individual’s behavior, this study used a national representative adult sample to assess flu vaccination as the result of an appraisal of relevant health beliefs, trust towards the authoritative entities (e.g. CDC & FDA) and vaccine-related media information, in addition to one’s existing behavior pattern. Results showed that not-vaccinated individuals differ significantly in their vaccine-related health believes and the trust towards the authoritative information sources. This group acquired less recommendation from health care providers and more negative sentiments about flu vaccine overall. After controlling for the existing behavior, media selectivity and perceived vaccine benefit are predicting individual’s vaccination hesitancy and intention in the coming flu season.


1994 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen M. Lux ◽  
Rick Petosa

The purpose of this study was to use an enhanced version of the Health Belief Model as a conceptual framework to describe health beliefs and safer sex intentions for HIV prevention educational needs of juvenile delinquents between the ages of thirteen to eighteen years incarcerated in state supported training schools in Ohio. An accessible sample ( n = 452) of juvenile delinquents from four of nine institutions was the study population. Juvenile delinquents in this study were at high risk for HIV infection. They reported low rates of safer sex intentions. Rates of perceived barriers to condom use and perceived social barriers to safer sex were high and consistent with low rates of safer sex intention. Rates of self-efficacy for condom use were high but inconsistent with intentions. While a majority of subjects reported self-efficacy for discussion of sexual histories, a larger majority reported low efficacy for disclosing previous high-risk behavior. This suggests that discussion of sexual history with a partner may not be effective in reducing risk among this population. The primary source of information about HIV was the mass media. HIV prevention programs for juvenile delinquents should consider the current health beliefs of this high-risk, hard-to-reach population.


2021 ◽  
pp. 109019812110199
Author(s):  
Jeanine P. D. Guidry ◽  
Nicole H. O’Donnell ◽  
Lucinda L. Austin ◽  
Ioana A. Coman ◽  
Jay Adams ◽  
...  

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly spread around the world, and since currently no treatments that are safe and effective for large groups of people nor a vaccine are available, the best way to prevent the illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus causing it. The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive effects of both demographic and psychosocial factors originating with the Health Belief Model on reported intent to adhere to COVID-19 preventive behaviors (e.g., social distancing, hand washing, and not attending large gatherings). Method A Qualtrics survey of 500 U.S. adults was conducted to explore the relationships of demographics and psychosocial factors with the intent to adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures. Results Gender was a predictor of taking preventive action, with women more likely to take action. Health Belief Model constructs predicted uptake of most COVID-19 preventive actions, but the constructs often appeared to work independent of the model. Race/ethnicity was an infrequent predictor, but when it did, minorities were less likely to report intent to adhere to COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Conclusion/Implications While not a perfect model for this pandemic, the Health Belief Model and its constructs should continue to be considered for use by public health communicators focusing on preventive measure campaign design in both the COVID-19 pandemic era and beyond.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annalyn Navarro ◽  
Raphael Enrique Tiongco ◽  
Reynaldo Bundalian Jr.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) during pregnancy is assumed to be associated with increased maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality; hence, a proper assessment of knowledge and practices is crucial to formulate preventive strategies to ensure the health of both the mother and the baby. The study determined the knowledge, attitude, practices (KAP), and the beliefs of pregnant women about UTI based on the Health Belief Model. A survey questionnaire was used to gather data from pregnant women with and without UTI. The association of the pregnant women’s sociodemographic characteristics with their KAP and health beliefs was determined using Pearson’s chi-square test. Results of the study showed that the majority of pregnant women have unsatisfactory knowledge with a positive attitude and good hygienic practices against UTI. Educational qualification and socioeconomic status showed a significant association with the KAP of pregnant women. Positive attitude and satisfactory hygienic practices were evident among the respondents despite their unsatisfactory knowledge. The salient traits of the Filipino women are exhibited on the descriptive of the Health Belief Model that include being resilient amid a problem and considering difficulties not as barriers but opportunities to make life healthier and better.


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