The 1950's Health Belief Model

The health belief model is a psychological health behavior change model that was developed to explain and predict health related behaviors. Throughout the 1950’s much attention was put forth towards disease prevention and treatment. During this time, there was an intervention in public health programs to screen for early detention of disease. Although free and open to the public many did not take advantage of these programs designed to aid healthcare. Even those clearly in need and known to be at risk for the disease didn’t have much response when the opportunity arose. In response to the lack of participation researchers at the U.S Public Health Service conducted a study to identify the factors that determined whether a person wanted screening
It derives from psychological and behavioral theory which breaks down into two components. The first component is the desire to avoid the illness or get well if already ill. Second component is the believe that a specific code action will prevent or cure illness. These things holds strong to the determination of factors but it is ultimately up to a person’s perception what are the things work or
The second construct is perceived susceptibility. This construct pertains to a person’s perception of the risk involved and developing an illness or disease. In other words, those who perceived that they may get a certain health problem will Will do different behaviors that they believe Will lower the risk of developing the problem. It is known that those with low susceptibility often deny that they are at risk for contracting a certain disease. These are the people who are more likely to participate in unhealthy and unsafe behaviors. On the other hand, those with high susceptibility will be more likely to engage in things that will prevent the condition However effective construct is not always an explanation of human behavior. Perception of risk however doesn’t explain all behaviors. For example, people continue to tan even though it is very public and known that they are at risk to the developing skin cancer. This shows how even though an activity is known to cause a particular disease people still move forward to perform these activities. The conjunction of perceived seriousness and perceive susceptibility is often times referred to as perceived threat. How serious the problem is or