Lakhasly

The health belief model (HBM) is a foundational framework in health behavior research.

The health belief model (HBM) is a foundational framework in health behavior research. help understand preventative health behavior , for the early detection of asymptomatic disease." The model focuses on how individuals perceive health threats and decide to act based on the value individuals place on a particular. It consists of 6 primary cognitive constructs, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action.
The model has been applied in diverse contexts, from chronic disease prevention to health education and promotion to evaluation of the effectiveness of community-based interventions. Critics argue that the HBM overly emphasizes cognitive constructs, neglecting emotional and social factors.
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Key cognitive constructs

• Perceived susceptibility: assessing the probability of acquiring an illness or encountering an undesirable outcome. For instance, the individual susceptibility to viral infection increases if in a crowded public space during a respiratory pandemic.)

2. Perceived severity: understanding the severity of the illness, condition, or unfavorable outcome and what could happen if no additional action is taken. There is a significant range in how people perceive the severity of an illness, and they often consider both the medical and social implications when assessing its severity. The COVID-19 pandemic is. an excellent example, with a wide range of behaviors based on differing perceptions of the consequences of becoming infected.)

3 Perceived benefits: how the effectiveness of various available actions to reduce the risk of illness is perceived. One example is wearing face masks during a respiratory pandemic.)

4. 
   

   Perceived barriers: obstacles to performing a recommended health action that may stop one from doing what is recommended. Examples include the availability, perceived social implications, or discomfort associated with wearing a respirator during a respiratory infectious disease outbreak.)

   
   


5. 
   

   Self-efficacy: an individual's belief in their ability to perform a specific behavior or task effectively. It is also related to the likelihood of a person engaging in a desired behavior.)

   
   

Self-efficacy was initially incorporated into the perceived barriers construct of the model by Janz and Becker, but many psychologists later identified it as an essential and independent cognitive construct. For example, a patient with a chronic illness who adheres to their healthcare provider's medication regimen demonstrates self-efficacy. They believe in remembering to take their medications, following dosage instructions, and managing adverse effects effectively.)

6. Cues to action: whether from one's surroundings or subjective experiences. Specific cues can influence the actions one chooses to take [9] (While less explored, cues to action are the stimuli that initiate the decision-making process to embrace a recommended health intervention. These cues can be either internal or external, from noticing symptoms of an illness to being exposed to a health campaign