HEALTH BELIEF MODEL

Organization, Community & Societal Determinants

Organization, Community & Societal Determinants

Introduction

Models and theories of health behavior have a significant relationship with the measurement of health behavior. Therefore, there are different kinds of models that pertain to organizational, community, and societal determinants. One of these models in the aspect of health behavior is “the health belief model”. However, within this concept there is also a concept that links religion and health together (Loren, 2005).

The Health Belief Model

This model was introduced by social psychologists in the arena of public health and was used to predict utilization of screening tests and vaccinations. An individual's likelihood to prevent him from being effected by an illness depends on the perceptions they develop. Some of these are mentioned below.

They are personally vulnerable to the condition

Consequences of the condition can be serious

Precautions can prevent the condition

Benefits of precautionary measures are more than the costs

All these factors are influenced by various variables that have indirect influence on the health behaviors. Therefore, this model is being used to intervene with illness and precautionary behaviors. However, some changes have been made in the model form the time it was first formulated. The four main factors that describe the model are mentioned below.

Perceived Susceptibility

This refers to the probability that an individual assigns to personal vulnerability in developing the condition. This also determines the health-protective behaviors. The model believes that an individual will take preventive measures to prevent from any kind of disease or illness. However, this greatly depends on the way one evaluates chances of getting a particular condition (Limb, 2011).

Perceived Severity

This refers to the severity of the condition that an individual believes can occur. Individuals take immediate actions more commonly for diseases that have the most negative physical, psychological and social effects and those that ...