The Health Belief Model - Assignment Example

? M3 and M4 Discussions M3 HBM Discussion The Health Belief Model (HBM) is the foundation for much health education programming and research because it provides a useful theoretical framework for investigating cognitive determinants of a wide range of behaviors related to health. The model remains relevant in health programs and research particularly because majority of health promotion programs are focused on modifying certain unhealthy behaviors through creation of awareness about the bad health effects associated with such behaviors and benefits of embracing behavior patterns associated with improved health (National Cancer Institute (US), 1995). For example, most health educational programs revolve around providing knowledge with the aim of changing certain behaviors associated with poor health. The model’s constructs are particularly easy for even non-psychologists to assimilate and apply them in predicting as well as understanding the motivational factors behind certain behaviors. HBM enables researchers and healthcare professionals to focus on modifiable psychological determinants of behaviors and provide practical interventions for a wide range of health related behaviors (National Center for Cultural Competence, 2008). Some behaviors such as reluctance to seek dental care services are attributed to both internal and external cues such as pain and socioeconomic status respectively. In this respect, HBM emerges as crucial in identifying such factors and formulating successful interventions to achieve positive behavioral changes. HBM provides a good framework for not only formulating interventions to existing behaviors that need to be changed in order to achieve certain health goals but also enables prediction of behaviors that can be closely linked to certain health conditions. Although, it is not clear how socioeconomic factors influence beliefs related to health, HBM provides an opportunity through health practitioners and research can focus on change behavior as an effective way of ensuring improved health standards. Article Summary Flaer, P., Younis, M., Benjamin, P., & Hajeri, M. (2010). A psychological approach to dentistry for the underserved: Incorporating theory into practice. Journal of Health Care 37(1), 101-108. Flaer et al. (2010) in their study seek to identify the critical values and beliefs of psychosocial theory underline the practice of dentistry for the underserved populations. The background information for the study recognizes the health belief model (HBM) as one the commonly applied public health theory particularly to predict and explain behavioral changes related to an individual’s health. In this study, HBM has been applied to examine psychosocial factors influencing access to dental care services among the underserved populations. HBM is specially, applied in the study to facilitate prediction of behavior changes related to dental care and associated belief patterns as well as explanation of such behavior changes (Flaer, Younis, Benjamin & Hajeri, 2010). Application of this theory in identifying psychosocial factors affecting the provision of dental care services is viewed as a crucial step in ensuring improved access to dental care services for the poor and disadvantaged populations. Although application of the HBM theory in this study is underpinned by the notion that certain beliefs, cognitive patterns and perceptions influence health-associated behaviors, the study shows that it can play a critical role in understanding and predicting behaviors that influence the willingness and ability of the underserved populations to obtain dental health care services (Flaer, Younis, Benjamin & Hajeri, 2010). The method used in this study is the application of HBM as a psychosocial model to evaluate psychosocial factors that influence obtaining or seeking of dental care services among the underserved populations (Flaer, Younis, Benjamin & Hajeri, 2010). The targeted population in the study is the underserved people of United States in Respect to dental care. The study results indicate that low levels of education contribute significantly to failure to seek, initiate, and obtain dental services owing to the belief that there is no seriousness and susceptibility to dental disease (Flaer, Younis, Benjamin & Hajeri, 2010). In addition, the study establishes that the belief that the oral environment has a mechanism to resist and deal with infections further contributes to failure by underserved populations to seek or receive dental services. The results show that underserved populations are unaware of the serious health problems predisposed by large dental cavities and frequent draining of infected teeth. On the other hand, the application of HBM reveals that fear and pain associated with the various dental conditions as the greatest motivators towards seeking dental care among the underserved populations. The study unveils that the desire to prevent tooth loss, bleeding gums and complications such as cancer, and prevention of bad breath are some of the key factors that push people falling underserved populations to seek dental care services. However, the fear to visit a dentist has been associated with psychosocial factors such as history of bad experiences narrated by other individuals as well as poor representation of dental care services in the media. HBM shows that factors that contribute to the willingness to seek dental care encompass cues to action such as internal inputs which trigger the desire to seek dental care services including pain and infections. The cues to actions can also be influenced through social interactions where people get to know the benefits of seeking dental care. In conclusion the study demonstrate that a theoretical approach to dentistry underpinned by the HBM is crucial in providing insights on the beliefs, perceptions and other psychosocial that influence access to dental care. M4 Social Cognitive Theory Discussion The main issue in the provided scenario is the challenge in ensuring that African American and Asian American male patients visit a dental public health clinic four times a year for periodontal evaluations and treatment. This issue can be effectively addressed though application of the social cognitive theory which emphasizes on the empowering the target population to embrace a given or preferred behaviors. The theory requires clear identification of the behavior that need to be changed and what is required in which in this particular case the focus is to have male patients from the identified races to visit the dental public clinic at least four times in a year (Georgia Collaborative Task Force-Data and Evaluation Workgroup, 2004). Therefore the desired behavior change could be achieved by identifying social economic factors that lead to their failure to adhere to the recommended four times visit such as job commitment, and lack of means to the clinic. The affected patients need to understand the benefits of making the recommended visits including the anticipated behavior outcomes. In this case, the best approach to resolve this issue is through proper education of the population on the benefits of making the recommended visits and provision of incentives such as cash incentives for though who manage to adhere to the four times routine (Georgia Collaborative Task Force-Data and Evaluation Workgroup, 2004). The incentive program should be properly planned to ensure sustainability and significant effort put by the dental practitioners towards educating the population served by the clinic on the benefits of visiting the clinic for periodontal evaluation and treatment. On the other hand, the financial incentive should be sufficient or close to majority of the individual’s daily wages to ensure that they can leave their casual jobs to attend the clinics. M4 Theories Discussion The prevention of and early detection of Oral Cancer through the perspective of Social Cognitive Theory Prevention and early detection of oral cancer through the perspective of social cognitive theory can be achieved through an awareness program focused on ensuring that people understand the various symptoms that predict the possible development or presence of oral cancer and the various behaviors capable of preventing development of the condition (Ramseier & Suvan, 2011). The public should made aware of personal risks and perceived susceptibility to oral cancer in order to encourage certain behaviors changed aimed at preventing development of oral cancer. The awareness can be achieved though a media-based campaign whose message is tailored in a way that ensures the public understand the perceived causes of oral cancer and behavior changes such as frequent visits to dental clinics for evaluation and maintenance of high oral hygiene standards (Ramseier & Suvan, 2011). The motivational factors towards embracing certain health behaviors such as ensuing frequent screening and personal hygiene should be emphasized throughout the campaign. In addition, the several dental clinics offering screening and dental evaluation services should be established closer to the people to facilitate early detection of oral cancer as well as treatment of dental diseases such untreated periodontal diseases which contribute to the development of oral cancer. The awareness media-based campaign should be targeted at both the senior and young members of the society to ensure inclusiveness in the program. The information in the campaign should be clear and easy to understand to ensure that all members of the target populations receive the intended message. The social cognitive theory provides the framework for predicting and understanding behaviors that lead to increased susceptibility to oral cancer as the first step in formulating the necessary interventions. References Flaer, P., Younis, M., Benjamin, P., & Hajeri, M. (2010). A psychological approach to dentistry for the underserved: Incorporating theory into practice. Journal of Health Care 37(1), 101-108. Georgia Collaborative Task Force-Data and Evaluation Workgroup (2004). Social marketing plan. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/socialmarketing/training/pdf/sampleproblemdescriptio n.pdf National Cancer Institute (US). (1995). Theory at a Glance: A Guide for Health Promotion Practice. New York, NY: Purdue University. National Center for Cultural Competence. (2008, July 10). Chapter 5: Health Belief Model, Part 1 [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPq_Rg9OmVI Ramseier, C., & Suvan, J. (2011). Health behavior change in the dental practice. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Read More