To determine factors predicting emergency preparedness (EP) behaviors among Hawaii parents.

A cross-sectional online survey of parents of children (age 0-12 y) living in Honolulu, Hawaii, in March 2023 examined associations with (1) having an EP kit (supplies for use during emergencies) and (2) having a family emergency plan (what to do, where to go, how to communicate during emergencies) with demographics/household characteristics and theoretical constructs of the Health Belief Model. A multivariable regression model obtained odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Participants (N = 278) were mainly female (84%), college-educated (68%), and were similar in diverse racial/ethnic composure (White; 13.3%) to the overall Honolulu County. Logistic regression determined participants with lower perceived susceptibility to disasters, greater time barriers, and those who needed help to prepare for emergencies were less likely to have an EP kit. Among participants without an EP kit, a website able to create personalized instructions for household EP would be useful. Participants who needed help to prepare for emergencies were less likely to have a family emergency plan.

Future interventions should focus on evidence-based strategies that improve self-efficacy associated with developing EP kits and family emergency plans.

This study aims to evaluate disaster preparedness of undergraduate nursing students.

This descriptive cross-sectional study included 302 voluntary nursing students from a university in Northern Cyprus. Data were collected through an online survey using Google Forms, which included a descriptive information form and the General Disaster Preparedness Belief Scale (GDPBS).

The mean age of the participants was 20.64 ± 2.02 years. Among the participants, 41.7% had prior experience with disasters, and 77.2% expressed a need for disaster education. The average GDPBS total score was high, and the mean score of the sub-dimensions was moderate. Nursing students who expressed a need for disaster education had higher scores on the severity and self-efficacy subscales of the GDPBS (p<0.05).

The level of disease preparedness was moderate in nursing students in Northern Cyprus. Therefore, education based on the health belief model, which assumes that positive health behaviors are affected by knowledge and attitudes, may be useful to improve disaster preparedness in nursing students.

The aim of this study was to develop a scale based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) to assess the family planning (FP) attitudes of postpartum women with 0- to 12-month-old infants residing in eight neighbourhoods of the Bornova province, Izmir, Turkey.

Family planning is an integral component of maternal and infant health during the postpartum period and is a fundamental aspect of healthcare services in the prenatal and postnatal period.

The Postpartum Family Planning Attitude Scale (PFPAS) was developed in four stages: item pool development, content validity evaluation, pilot study, and reliability and validity assessment. The PFPAS was administered to 292 women. The developed scale comprised 27 items and six sub-dimensions. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to evaluate the reliability of the scale. Construct validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis.

Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.88, indicating good reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis validated the structural validity of the scale, with a chi-square/degree of freedom ratio of 2.24, an RMSEA value of 0.068, and a CFI value of 0.95. The lowest and highest possible scores for the PFPAS were 27 and 135, respectively, with a mean total score of 105.32 ± 11.91.

Religious beliefs may play a role in the rejection and acceptance of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines. We aimed to explore attitudes of Islamic clerics toward receiving the COVID-19 vaccines in a semi-structured qualitative focus group study.

The clerics of members of the Union of Muslim Scholars of the Erbil branch were included through their representative in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2021.

This study found that both acceptance and non-acceptance focus groups approved of the existence and importance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The acceptance group intended to receive COVID-19 to protect themselves and tried to convince people to receive the vaccine. However, the non-acceptance focus group did not believe in the COVID-19 vaccine due to different reasons: (1) COVID-19 vaccines have been commercialized and politicized by the governments; (2) the government makes limitations for the people due to COVID-19; (3) making fake vaccine cards; and (4) several serious side effects of COVID-19 (death, etc.) and not receiving by health care workers. The acceptance group reported that some rumors are spread in our community and impact the public to not receive COVID-19 vaccines.

This study showed that some Islamic clerics have serious concerns about the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines.

Anxiety is common during the perinatal period and despite effective treatments being available, many women with perinatal anxiety disorders experience barriers when accessing treatment.

The aims of the current study were to explore women’s perceived barriers to treatment uptake; cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) treatment delivery preferences; and the utility of the Health Belief Model (HBM) in predicting intention to seek psychological help for women with perinatal anxiety symptoms.

This study employed a cross-sectional design consisting of women with self-reported anxiety in the perinatal period. A total of 216 women (M age=28.53 years; SD=4.97) participated in the study by completing a battery of online self-report measures.

The results indicated that the most salient barriers to accessing care were: (1) the cost of treatment, (2) wanting to solve the problem on their own, and (3) thinking the problem would go away without treatment. Group-delivered CBT was the least acceptable treatment method, while face-to-face individual CBT was the most acceptable treatment method. The HBM variables predicted approximately 35% of the variance in help-seeking intention.

This study has important implications for the delivery of psychological care in the perinatal period and may be used to improve treatment uptake.

The prevalence of Covid-19 has become a clinical threat worldwide. However, knowledge about this new virus is limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the preventive behaviors of Covid-19 based on the constructs of health belief model (HBM) in the clients of health centers in Zabol, Iran.

This descriptive–analytical (cross-sectional) study was performed on 160 people referring to health centers in Zabol by the available method. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS20 software and appropriate statistical tests.

A positive and significant correlation was observed between preventive behaviors of Covid-19 and perceived benefit constructs (r = 0.29, P = 0.0001) and self-efficacy (r = 0.39, P = 0.0001). HBM constructs were able to predict about 36% of the variance of Covid-19 disease preventive behaviors, with self-efficacy (B = 0.134) being the strongest predictor.

Since no specific and definitive treatment for Corona has been found yet, taking preventive measures can be the best way to prevent the spread of this disease in the community. Therefore, this can be achieved by raising awareness and preventive behaviors through health education.

With the COVID-19 pandemic recognized as a major threat to human health, promoting vaccination is of paramount importance to public health.

To examine the association between factors of the Health Belief Model (HBM) and intentions to be vaccinated against COVID-19, when a vaccine becomes available.

A literature review has been made through PubMed database.

The HBM dimensions “perceived barriers”, “perceived benefits” and “perceived severity” were considered to be significant predictors of acceptance of vaccinations. The HBM constructs of cues to action (trust in third-party information sources), perceived severity of and susceptibility to COVID-19, and beliefs about the protection benefits of a COVID-19 vaccine, subsequently may elicit willingness to vaccinate. Individual predictors of vaccination were believing the vaccine is effective at preventing COVID-19, recalling their doctor recommending the vaccine. Common perceived barriers against vaccination included believing the vaccine could give people the virus, believing the vaccine can make individuals ill afterwards and preferring to develop immunity “naturally”. Patients who delayed and refused vaccine doses were more likely to have vaccine safety concerns and perceive fewer benefits associated with vaccines.

HBM is an effective tool for identifying facilitators and barriers to health behaviors. Health promotion should make use of the HBM, as the model provides a theoretically understanding of the dynamics that may enable the success of important health-related policy in the wake of COVID-19 and future pandemics and identifies the communication mechanisms that must be leveraged by governments and authorities in enforcing policy.

No significant relationships.

Through the application of the Health Belief Model, this study sought to explore how relationships between perceived susceptibility, severity, and benefits of social distancing recommendations, as well as psychological factors, may impact compliance with COVID-19 social distancing recommendations in the United States.

Between October and November 2020, a convenience sample of English-speaking adults in the United States completed an online, cross-sectional survey which included items assessing beliefs around threats (e.g., perceived susceptibility and severity), response efficacy (e.g., perceived benefits), psychological factors (e.g., stress and COVID-specific anxiety), and compliance with social distancing measures (e.g., avoiding social gatherings).

Social distancing compliance was positively associated with perceived susceptibility of COVID-19 (b = 0.42, P < 0.05) and perceived benefits of social distancing recommendations (b = 0.81, P < 0.01). No significant associations were found between perceived severity of COVID-19 (P = 0.38), general stress (P = 0.28), COVID-19-related anxiety (P = 0.12), and compliance.

Findings suggest that perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 and perceived benefits of social distancing measures significantly increased compliance with social distancing recommendations in this convenience sample of U.S. adults.

To evaluate the effectiveness of a behaviourally focused nutrition education (NE) intervention based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) to improve knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to eating habits and activity levels in 10–12-year-old adolescents in Mumbai, India.

School-based cluster randomised controlled trial. The experimental group (EG) received weekly NE and three parent sessions over 12 weeks; no sessions were conducted for the control group (CG). The theoretical framework of HBM and focus group discussion results guided the development of behaviour change communication strategies and NE aids. KAP were measured using a validated survey instrument, administered at baseline and endline in EG and CG. Paired and independent t tests determined within-group and between-group changes in pre–post scores.

Two aided and two private schools that were randomly allocated to either an EG or CG.

Adolescent boys and girls (n 498; EG n 292 and CG n 206).

EG reported improvements in mean knowledge (39·3%), attitude (7·3 %), diet (9·6 %) and activity practice (9·4%) scores from pre to post intervention. No significant changes were observed in CG. Significant improvements in scores associated with perceived benefits, barriers and self-efficacy, breakfast and vegetable consumption, and moderate-to-vigorous activities were observed in EG.

Integrating NE into the academic curriculum and adopting evidence-based lessons that entail targeted information delivery and participatory activities can improve knowledge, foster right attitudes and facilitate better eating and activity-related practices in Indian adolescents.

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of different lunchbox messages on parents’ intention to pack a healthy lunchbox.

This study employed an experimental design.

A series of messages were developed to align with the six constructs of the Health Belief Model. Messages were also developed that were (and were not) personalised and varied based on the source of the information provided (university, school, dietitian and health promotion service). During a telephone survey, participants were read the content of each message and asked about their intention to pack a healthy lunchbox.

Parents of primary school-aged children were randomised to receive different messages to encourage the packing of healthy lunchboxes.

The study was completed by 511 parents. Linear mixed regression analyses identified significant differences (P < 0·05) in intention scores between variant messages targeting the same behavioural constructs for ‘susceptibility’, ‘severity’, ‘benefits’ and ‘barriers’ but not ‘cues to action’ or ‘self-efficacy’. The highest mean behavioural intention score was for ‘benefits’, whilst the lowest mean score was for ‘barriers’. There were no significant differences in intention scores of parents receiving messages from a dietitian, university, health promotion team or school (P = 0·37). Intention scores did not differ in which messages were personalised based on child’s name (P = 0·84) or grade level (P = 0·54).

The findings suggest that messages that focus on the benefits of packing healthy lunchboxes may be particularly useful in improving intentions of parents to pack healthy foods for their children to consume at school.

Examining the credibility of self-reported height, weight, and blood pressure by the elderly population using a tablet in a retirement residence, and examining the influence of health beliefs on the self-reporting credibility.

Obesity is a major problem with rising prevalence in the western world. Hypertension is also a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Self-report, remotely from the clinic, becomes even more essential when patients are encouraged to avoid visiting the clinic as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-reporting of height and weight is suspected of leading to underestimation of obesity prevalence in the population; however, it has not been well studied in the elderly population.

The Health Belief Model tries to predict and explain decision making of patients based on the patient’s health beliefs.

Residents of a retirement home network filled a questionnaire about their health beliefs regarding hypertension and obesity and self-reported their height, weight, and blood pressure. Blood pressure, height, and weight were then measured and compared to the patients’ self-reporting.

Ninety residents, aged 84.90 ± 5.88, filled the questionnaire. From a clinical perspective, the overall gap between the measured and the self-reported BMI (M = 1.43, SD = 2.72), which represents an absolute gap of 0.74 kilograms and 2.95 centimeters, is expected to have only a mild influence on the physician’s clinical evaluation of the patient’s medical condition. This can allow the physician to estimate their patient’s BMI status before the medical consultation and physical examination upon the patient’s self-reporting. Patients’ dichotomous (normal/abnormal) self-report of their blood pressure condition was relatively credible: positive predictive value (PPV) of 77.78% for normal blood pressure (BP) and 78.57% for abnormal BP. The relatively high PPV of BP self-reporting demonstrates an option for the physician to recognize patients at risk. Regression analysis found no correlation between the anthropometric parameters and the Health Belief Model.

The Health Belief Model (HBM) can be used as a guide in enhancing the peoples’ awareness, improving the motivation, and providing tools that address beliefs and attitudes toward general disaster preparedness (GDP).

The aim of this study was to improve and re-test all psychometric properties of the published General Disaster Preparedness Belief (GDPB) scale based on HBM carried out in the general population. This scale development study measured by 58 items was prepared under the same structure of the developed GDPB scale that measured 31 items before. This expanded scale was applied to 973 individuals. Firstly, the data from application of the expanded scale was examined under Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Then, the estimations obtained from Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) for the expanded scale with 45 items were compared with the estimations obtained from the previous scale with 31 items.

The EFA lead to the removal of 13 items and the retention of 45 items. The items which the factor loadings were below 0.30 and which gave the factor loadings for more dimension were excluded from the data set. A model measured six dimensions with 45 items was hypothesized: six items under perceived susceptibility, four items under perceived severity, six items under perceived benefits, 14 items under perceived barriers, five items under cues to action, and 10 items under self-efficacy. For CFA results, all estimations for factor loadings were significant. The scale with 45 items obtained in this study fit because Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Goodness of Fit Index (GFI), and Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index (AGFI) were over 0.95.

These results suggest that the scale with 45 items shows improvement in the scale with 31 items. This study indicates that the GDPB scale with 45 items based on HBM has acceptable validity and reliability. This tool can be used in disaster preparedness surveys.InalE, DoganN. Improvement of General Disaster Preparedness Belief Scale Based on Health Belief Model. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(6):627–636.