The Health Belief Model

Factors Influencing Patient

Compliance
Introduction
Half of medical advice is not taken up.
100 million of prescribed medication is
discarded every year, at least.
Compliance with screening or preventative
programmes is essential for their
effectiveness.
Health Belief Model
Health Motivation.

Perceived vulnerability.

Perceived costs and benefits.

Perceived Seriousness.
Health Motivation
The individuals
general interest in
health matters, which
may correlate with
personality, social
class, ethic group,
religion etc etc.
Perceived Vulnerability
How vulnerable or
threatened a patient
feels him / herself to
be to a particular
disease.
Perceived Costs and Benefits
The individuals
estimation of the
benefits of treatment
weighed against cost,
risks and
inconvenience.
Perceived Seriousness
Trigger factors such as
alarming symptoms,
advice from family or
friends, messages
from the media,
disruption of work or
play.
Health Beliefs About Illness or
Symptoms
Difficult to elicit.
Patients frightened of looking foolish or
ignorant.
Patients may be reluctant to waste a
doctors time with personal attitudes.
Health Beliefs About Illness or
Symptoms
Avoid direct questions e.g. What do you
think will happen if you dont get your
blood pressure checked?
Indirect questions helpful:
What is going through your mind?
What does your wife / husband think?
Etc etc.

Checklist
Elicit patients health
beliefs.
Reinforce positive
attitudes to health.
i.e. praise for giving up
smoking for a period in
the past, dont dwell on
the fact they re-started.


Checklist
Counter myths and
negative attitudes.
Inform patient about
causes and prognosis.

Checklist
Plan an appropriate
course of action to suit
his/her needs and
lifestyle.
Dont ask them to give
up cigarettes, alcohol
and sexual promiscuity
all at once !