Enhancing COVID-19 booster vaccination among the elderly through text message reminders.

The BOOST (Booster promotion for older outpatients using SMS text reminders) program at Taipei Veterans General Hospital assessed the effectiveness of text message reminders in enhancing COVID-19 booster vaccination rates among the elderly, guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM). Targeting patients aged 65 and above, eligible yet unvaccinated for a COVID-19 booster, this cohort study sent personalized reminders a week prior to their scheduled appointments between April 18, 2022, and May 12, 2022, acting as cues to action to enhance vaccination uptake by overcoming perceived barriers and raising awareness of benefits. Over 5 weeks, the study observed a 38% increase in vaccination rate among 3,500 eligible patients, markedly surpassing the concurrent national rate increase of 4% for the same demographic. The majority of vaccinations occurred within two weeks after the reminder, illustrating the effectiveness of the strategy. Cox regression analysis identified age and time since last vaccination as significant predictors of responsiveness, with those aged 65-74 and 75-84 showing higher uptake, particularly when reminders were sent within 4 months after the last dose. A single reminder proved to be effective. The findings of this study demonstrate the potential of SMS reminders to promote COVID-19 vaccination among the elderly through the strategic use of HBM principles, suggesting a feasible and effective approach to public health communication.

The Perceived Benefits and Self-Efficacy of an Exercise Intervention on Tobacco Withdrawal Symptoms: A Qualitative Study Based on the Health Belief Model.

Background: This study examined the effectiveness of an exercise programme as an adjunct to smoking cessation treatments. The effects of exercise on smoking habits and tobacco withdrawal symptoms (TWS) were evaluated among smokers who were in the pre-contemplation and contemplation stages. Methods: This was a case study with convenience sampling techniques. This study lasted approximately 2 years, beginning in February 2016. This study was divided into two phases: an intervention phase followed by an interview. The participants were invited to undergo the 8-week supervised moderate aerobic exercise programme. This qualitative study involved 14 participants selected from the intervention phase. They were interviewed about their experiences using a semi-structured questionnaire guided by the health belief model. Results: This study involved 14 participants who were aged between 26 years old and 40 years old and smoked from 11 to 20 cigarettes per day. Most participants perceived benefits and self-efficacy regarding smoking habits and tobacco withdrawal symptoms (TWS) following the exercise intervention. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that moderate exercise might be helpful in increasing self-efficacy in smoking cessation and the findings encourage further research on exercise programmes as an adjunct to smoking cessation treatments in Malaysia.

Determinants of Intention to Uptake COVID-19 Vaccination Among Saudi Adults: Application of the Health Belief Model.

Introduction: The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has had a profound effect on global health. Due to its potential impact on the efficacy of pandemic control measures, vaccine hesitancy (VH) in relation to COVID-19 has emerged as a significant concern. The attainment of herd immunity is contingent on the rate of COVID-19 vaccine adoption. Despite this, there have been reports of reluctance toward the COVID-19 vaccine. This study seeks to investigate the effect of constructs that influence adults' intentions to receive COVID-19 vaccination using the Health Belief Model (HBM). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by recruiting Saudi Arabian adults as participants. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the proposed HBM model was evaluated. A total of 505 individuals replied to the survey. Results: The suggested HBM model explained 68% of the variation in intention to get COVID-19 immunization. I found all HBM variables namely perceived susceptibility, greater levels of perceived behavioral control, severity, benefits, and barriers to be significant predictors of vaccination intentions. Among demographic variables, only married status had a significant relationship with the intention to obtain COVID-19 immunization. Discussion: The findings of this study indicate that the HBM can be utilized effectively to obtain insight into the factors that influence COVID-19 prevention measure adherence. Understanding and recognizing individuals' perceived health beliefs and practices is essential for the development of effective COVID-19 intervention strategies.

Predictive ability of the health belief model in HIV testing and counselling uptake among youth aged 15-24 in La-Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality, Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Majority of new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive persons in Ghana are aged 15-24. HIV prevalence among persons aged 15-24 years, a proxy for new infections, remained stable at 1.5% for 2017 and 2018, making it a significant public health concern. Yet only 26.4% of females and 8.6% of males aged 15-24 years know their HIV status. This study determined the predictive ability of the Health Belief Model (HBM) in HIV testing and counselling (HTC) uptake among youth (15-24 years) in the La-Nkwantanang Madina Municipality, Ghana. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was adopted for the study, using a multistage sampling method to select 415 youth aged 15-24. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, and analysed using binomial logistic regression with STATA software version 16.0 at p < 0.05 significance level and at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: HTC uptake was 29.2%. Perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers, and perceived self-efficacy predicted HTC uptake. Youths with a high-risk perception for contracting HIV [OR = 3.03; 95% CI = 1.46, 6.30, p = 0.003], who perceived that they can contract HIV if not protected [OR = 3.69; 95% CI = 1.47, 9.22, p = 0.005], and worry about getting HIV [OR = 3.03, 95% CI = 1.61, 5.69, p < 0.001] (perceived susceptibility) were more likely to uptake HTC. Youths who had no trust issues with health workers [OR = 3.53; 95% CI = 1.46, 8.53, p = 0.005] and those who were not afraid of positive HIV test results [OR = 5.29; 95% CI = 2.66, 10.51, p,0.001] (perceived barriers) were more likely to uptake HTC. Youths who had no difficulties in turning up for appointments (perceived self-efficacy) had higher odds of HTC uptake [OR = 11.89, 95% CI = 6.73, 20.98, P < 0.001]. For the modifying factors, being married [OR = 2.96; 95% CI = 1.65-5.33], and having knowledge of HTC [OR = 9.10; 95% CI = 2.16-38.3], significantly influenced HTC uptake. CONCLUSION: Health promotion interventions to increase HTC uptake should focus on heightening the perception of susceptibility to HIV, reducing the barriers to HTC uptake, and increasing the self-efficacy for HTC uptake. The interventions should also target the significant modifying factors.

A new communication approach to encourage lung cancer screening action in rural eligible populations.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop an effective communication approach to encourage lung cancer screening action within rural screening-eligible populations. Methods: An iterative research approach using targeted engagement with the priority population was used. Findings were triangulated through multiple methods, including two surveys and concept testing interviews. The Health Belief Model and the Extended Parallel Process Model served as study frameworks. Results: Initial findings suggest that threat levels are high in the priority population and an emphasis on barrier mitigation messaging may drive action. Health campaign posters integrating these findings were developed and tested with the priority population. The new health campaign posters were tested against examples of previously used health campaign posters. Findings suggest that the new health campaign posters were more effective in spurring lung cancer screening motivation and intention to act in the priority population compared to current health campaign poster examples. Conclusion: Messaging focused on gain-framing, inoculation messaging, and barrier mitigation may be more effective in encouraging lung cancer screening action in rural eligible populations. Innovation: This project outlines a systematic process to developing effective, targeted communication approaches using behavior change and persuasive communication frameworks along with engagement from priority populations.

Determinants of intended prevention behaviour against mosquitoes and mosquito-borne viruses in the Netherlands and Spain using the MosquitoWise survey: cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Recently, Europe has seen an emergence of mosquito-borne viruses (MBVs). Understanding citizens' perceptions of and behaviours towards mosquitoes and MBVs is crucial to reduce disease risk. We investigated and compared perceptions, knowledge, and determinants of citizens' behavioural intentions related to mosquitoes and MBVs in the Netherlands and Spain, to help improve public health interventions. METHODS: Using the validated MosquitoWise survey, data was collected through participant panels in Spain (N = 475) and the Netherlands (N = 438). Health Belief Model scores measuring behavioural intent, knowledge, and information scores were calculated. Confidence Interval-Based Estimation of Relevance was used, together with potential for change indexes, to identify promising determinants for improving prevention measure use. RESULTS: Spanish participants' responses showed slightly higher intent to use prevention measures compared to those of Dutch participants (29.1 and 28.2, respectively, p 0.03). Most participants in Spain (92.2%) and the Netherlands (91.8%) indicated they used at least one prevention measure, but differences were observed in which types they used. More Spanish participants indicated to have received information on mosquitoes and MBVs compared to Dutch participants. Spanish participants preferred health professional information sources, while Dutch participants favoured government websites. Determinants for intent to use prevention measures included "Knowledge", "Reminders to Use Prevention Measures", and "Information" in the Netherlands and Spain. Determinants for repellent use included "Perceived Benefits" and "Cues to Action", with "Perceived Benefits" having a high potential for behavioural change in both countries. "Self-Efficacy" and "Knowledge" were determinants in both countries for breeding site removal. CONCLUSION: This study found differences in knowledge between the Netherlands and Spain but similarities in determinants for intent to use prevention measures, intent to use repellents and intent to remove mosquito breeding sites. Identified determinants can be the focus for future public health interventions to reduce MBV risks.

Why did I participate in an HIV vaccine study? Experiences of participation in the first phase II HIV vaccine trial in Mozambique: An ancillary study using a mixed-method approach.

Introduction: This study recognized the lack of information regarding recruitment and retention factors associated with implementing HIV vaccine trials from the perspective of de facto participants. It aimed to describe the motives and experiences of 31 young adults who participated in a phase II HIV vaccine clinical trial conducted in Maputo, Mozambique. Methods: This was an ancillary study with a mixed-method approach that employed a convergent design, combining both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Data collection involved questionnaire surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. Participants were assessed before and after learning whether they received the experimental vaccine or placebo. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative data, while descriptive analysis and statistical tests such as Fischer's test and McNemar's exact test were applied to quantitative data. The study also utilized the Health Belief Model to understand the decision-making process of participating in an HIV vaccine study. Results: Most of our participants were young females, single, with limited financial resources. Participants joined the trial with the belief that they had a unique opportunity to help the fight against HIV and contribute to the research for the discovery of an HIV vaccine. Positive experiences related to trial participation include gaining knowledge about HIV and personal health and receiving risk reduction counseling. Participants reported blood collection as a negative experience and that they suffered social harm because of trial participation. Participants felt abandoned after the trial ended. Conclusion: Preventive HIV vaccine trials should integrate a social-behavioral component to assess reasons for participation and refusal in real-time. Providing ongoing personal attention is crucial for young individuals who have committed 1-2 years to trial participation, extending beyond the trial period. Implementing tailored strategies for HIV risk assessment and reduction during and after the trial is essential. Addressing these factors can enhance preventive HIV vaccine trial implementation.

Development and Psychometric Properties of the Health Belief Model Scale for Premature Birth Prevention (HBM-PBP) for Women of Childbearing Age.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop the Health Belief Model scale for premature birth prevention (HBM-PBP) and evaluated its psychometric properties in women of childbearing age. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design and included 724 women of childbearing age with intentions of future childbirth or in their first trimester of pregnancy. An item pool was formulated from the literature and in-depth interviews based on the health belief model. Content validation was conducted by experts and through cognitive interviews with women of childbearing age. Construct and concurrent validity and reliability were evaluated using factor analysis, Pearson's correlation analysis, and Cronbach's alpha. Results: The HBM-PBP consisted of 96 items, including perceived susceptibility (21 items, 5 subscales), severity (26 items, 5 subscales), benefits (27 items, 5 subscales), and barriers (22 items, 5 subscales). Convergent and discriminant validity were supported. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the domains ranged from 0.87 to 0.94. Conclusion: The HBM-PBP is a valid and reliable measurement scale with good psychometric properties. It can be used to measure health beliefs in women, either as a whole or in individual domains. Health professionals can leverage the HBM-PBP to discern women's health beliefs on premature birth, facilitating tailored interventions and educational efforts.

Predicting COVID-19 vaccine uptake: Comparing the health belief model and theory of planned behavior.

The COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on the global health landscape, underscoring the crucial role that vaccinations play in achieving herd immunity and reducing the effects of pandemics. Given the importance of this issue, it is imperative to gain a deeper understanding of the various factors that influence individuals' decisions to seek vaccination. This study aimed to compare the prediction level of the Health Belief Model (HBM), the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and a combined model in explaining the intention of adults to receive COVID-19 immunization. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among adults (n = 505) in Saudi Arabia. The survey contained variables related to the HBM and TPB. The prediction level of the two models as well as a combined model were evaluated utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Among the recruited 505 participants, 88% fell within the 18 to 30 age range, and 54.5% were male. The proposed HBM model accounted for 68% of the variation in intention, whereas the TPB model explained 78.2% of the variation in COVID-19 vaccination intention. The combined model showed greater explanatory power (82%). The variables of susceptibility (ß = 0.20, p < .001), severity (ß = 0.49, p < .001), advantages (ß = 0.63, p < .001), and obstacles (ß = - 0.24, p < .001), perceptions of behavioral control (ß = 1.58, p < .001) and attitudes (ß = 0.44, p < .001) were found to significantly predict increased vaccination intentions in the combined model. However, the subjective norm construct did not significantly predict vaccination intentions (ß = 0.06, p = .34). The TPB has greater explanatory power than the HBM in predicting the intention to obtain COVID-19 vaccination. However, the combined model showed a greater prediction level. Understanding and identifying people's perceived health beliefs and practices is critical for developing successful COVID-19 intervention methods.

Investigating the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine decision-making among parents of children aged 5-11 in the UK.

BACKGROUND: The global effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the pivotal role of vaccination in public health, particularly considering emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 variants. While priority has been given to immunising vulnerable populations, children remain a significant unvaccinated group, prompting NHS England to include them in their new vaccination strategy. The role parents play in child healthcare decisions, specifically regarding COVID-19 vaccination, is crucial, and the Health Belief Model (HBM) provides a framework for understanding parental vaccination behaviour. METHODS: To investigate the predictors influencing parental decision-making for COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5-11, an online cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst parents (n = 206) living in the UK aged > 18, with one or more children aged 5-11. The present study measured HBM constructs, demographic factors, vaccine hesitancy and vaccine decision-making self-efficacy. Binomial logistic regression was used to analyse the responses of 206 participants using the child vaccination status (vaccinated vs. unvaccinated) as the outcome variable. FINDINGS: The regression model significantly predicted child vaccination status, identifying perceived barriers, cues to action and parent age as significant predictors. Higher cues to action and older parent age increased the likelihood of child vaccination, while greater perceived barriers decreased it. The model achieved 80.8 % overall accuracy by correctly identifying 87.6 % of vaccinated cases and 69.4 % of unvaccinated cases, demonstrating high accuracy in predicting parental vaccination decisions. CONCLUSION: The present study contributes to our understanding of the factors shaping parental decision-making regarding COVID-19 child vaccination, highlighting the impact of perceived barriers, cues to action and parent age. Future public health campaigns should address the specific barriers faced by parents, emphasise external cues to action and tailor messaging to acknowledge age-related differences in parental vaccine decision-making. By addressing the aforementioned factors influencing parental behaviour regarding child vaccination, future interventions can increase the number of children vaccinated against COVID-19, preventing transmission, protecting from severe illness and contributing to the NHS vaccination strategy.

Understanding factors for adhering to health recommendations during COVID-19 among older adults - a qualitative interview study using health belief model as analytical framework.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a unique possibility to broaden the understanding of people's reactions to a global crisis. Early on, it became evident that older adults were particularly vulnerable to the virus and that the actions of this age group would be crucial to the outcome. This qualitative interview study uses the Health Belief Model (HBM) framework as an analytical tool to examine older people's experiences of adherence to recommendations during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to view this study in the context of Sweden's voluntary restrictions, which further highlight the unique nature of this research. METHOD: In April-May 2020, 41 adults aged 70-85 participated in unstructured phone interviews. The objective was to investigate older adults' perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly their understanding of the disease and the conditions that influenced their adherence to health recommendations. HBM was used as an analytical framework to guide the analysis of the interviews. RESULTS: Despite perceiving COVID-19 as a severe threat to health and society, participants did not let fear dominate their responses. Instead, they demonstrated remarkable resilience and a proactive approach. For some, the perceived susceptibility to the disease was the primary motivator for adherence to the Swedish national recommendations. Notably, trust in the authorities and family members' requests significantly bolstered adherence. Moreover, adherence was found to contribute to feelings of safety. Conversely, potential barriers to adhering to recommendations included missing loved ones and frustration with sometimes ambiguous information from authorities. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study indicate that older adults are willing to adhere to voluntary restrictions during a global pandemic. Relatives of older people are a resource for communicating information regarding safety and health messages, a message that is preferably thorough and consistent. Further, much can be gained if loneliness during isolation can be mitigated since missing loved ones appears to be a potential barrier to adherence.

The effect of educational intervention based on health belief model on colorectal cancer screening behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the second most prevalent cause of death from malignancies globally. The present study was conducted targeting the influence of an educational intervention based on the health belief model (HBM) on colorectal cancer screening behaviors in people 50 years old and older. METHODS: All 134 samples were included in this quasi-experimental study from Fasa City Health Service Center, equal halves were random into experimental group and control group. The data collection tool was a questionnaire that contained questions on demographic variables, knowledge, and HBM constructs (perceived sensitivity, perceived intensity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and screening behaviors). Both groups answered the questionnaire before and two months following the intervention. There were six 90-minute instruction sessions for the intervention group. SPSS 22 and descriptive and analytical tests (independent t-test, paired t-test, and Chi-square test) were used for data analysis (P < 0.05). RESULTS: 59 women and 75 men took part in this study. A majority of participants were married and had at least high school diploma. The findings indicated that the mean scores for knowledge, each of the HBM's constructs, and cancer screening behaviors did not differ significantly from one another before the intervention between the test group and the control group. However, post the intervention, the intervention group exhibited a significant rise in all mentioned dimensions. CONCLUSION: In light of the outcomes, the application of the HBM on colorectal cancer screening behaviors in people 50 years and older was successful. This approach might serve as a helpful foundation for planning, carrying out, and overseeing colorectal cancer screening programs.

A behaviour and disease transmission model: incorporating the Health Belief Model for human behaviour into a simple transmission model.

The health and economic impacts of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 affect all levels of a community from the individual to the governing bodies. However, the spread of an infectious disease is intricately linked to the behaviour of the people within a community since crowd behaviour affects individual human behaviour, while human behaviour affects infection spread, and infection spread affects human behaviour. Capturing these feedback loops of behaviour and infection is a well-known challenge in infectious disease modelling. Here, we investigate the interface of behavioural science theory and infectious disease modelling to explore behaviour and disease (BaD) transmission models. Specifically, we incorporate a visible protective behaviour into the susceptible-infectious-recovered-susceptible (SIRS) transmission model using the socio-psychological Health Belief Model to motivate behavioural uptake and abandonment. We characterize the mathematical thresholds for BaD emergence in the BaD SIRS model and the feasible steady states. We also explore, under different infectious disease scenarios, the effects of a fully protective behaviour on long-term disease prevalence in a community, and describe how BaD modelling can investigate non-pharmaceutical interventions that target-specific components of the Health Belief Model. This transdisciplinary BaD modelling approach may reduce the health and economic impacts of future epidemics.

Perceived Barriers to Pap Screening Influence Adherence to Screening Recommendations Among Black Women.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs associated with Pap screening adherence among a sample of African American and sub-Saharan African immigrant women in the United States. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted via an online survey. Participants were recruited from central Kentucky counties. Ninety-one eligible women participated (mean age 38 ± 12 years), 49.5% identified as African American. Twenty-nine percent indicated never being screened or not being up-to-date. Self-reported demographic data, HBM constructs for Pap screening, and Pap screening history were collected. Bivariate and logistic regressions were performed. Results: There was a significant negative association between perceived barriers and being up-to-date. For every one-point increase in perceived barriers, the odds of being up-to-date decreased by 81%, (p = 0.004; CI: 0.06-0.60), findings from further evaluation of the barrier construct showed that barriers significantly associated with screening include items related to lack of knowledge about where to get a Pap screening, lack of time to attend the screening, screening-associated shame and pain, negligence, and age. There were no other significant HBM constructs associated with up-to-date Pap screening status. There was no difference in perceived barriers between African American and sub-Saharan African women. Conclusions: Despite public health efforts to decrease screening barriers, a perception of barriers exists among Black women. Continued efforts to address screening barriers as well as the perception of barriers are warranted among Black women.

Development of an Electronic Health Record Self-Referral Tool for Lung Cancer Screening: One-Group Posttest Study.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 14 million individuals in the United States are eligible for lung cancer screening (LCS), but only 5.8% completed screening in 2021. Given the low uptake despite the potential great health benefit of LCS, interventions aimed at increasing uptake are warranted. The use of a patient-facing electronic health record (EHR) patient portal direct messaging tool offers a new opportunity to both engage eligible patients in preventative screening and provide a unique referral pathway for tobacco treatment. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to develop and pilot an EHR patient-facing self-referral tool for an established LCS program in an academic medical center. METHODS: Guided by constructs of the Health Belief Model associated with LCS uptake (eg, knowledge and self-efficacy), formative development of an EHR-delivered engagement message, infographic, and self-referring survey was conducted. The survey submits eligible self-reported patient information to a scheduler for the LCS program. The materials were pretested using an interviewer-administered mixed methods survey captured through venue-day-time sampling in 5 network-affiliated pulmonology clinics. Materials were then integrated into the secure patient messaging feature in the EHR system. Next, a one-group posttest quality improvement pilot test was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 17 individuals presenting for lung screening shared-decision visits completed the pretest survey. More than half were newly referred for LCS (n=10, 60%), and the remaining were returning patients. When asked if they would use a self-referring tool through their EHR messaging portal, 94% (n=16) reported yes. In it, 15 participants provided oral feedback that led to refinement in the tool and infographic prior to pilot-testing. When the initial application of the tool was sent to a convenience sample of 150 random patients, 13% (n=20) opened the self-referring survey. Of the 20 who completed the pilot survey, 45% (n=9) were eligible for LCS based on self-reported smoking data. A total of 3 self-referring individuals scheduled an LCS. CONCLUSIONS: Pretest and initial application data suggest this tool is a positive stimulus to trigger the decision-making process to engage in a self-referral process to LCS among eligible patients. This self-referral tool may increase the number of patients engaging in LCS and could also be used to aid in self-referral to other preventative health screenings. This tool has implications for clinical practice. Tobacco treatment clinical services or health care systems should consider using EHR messaging for LCS self-referral. This approach may be cost-effective to improve LCS engagement and uptake. Additional referral pathways could be built into this EHR tool to not only refer patients who currently smoke to LCS but also simultaneously trigger a referral to clinical tobacco treatment.

Determinants of preventive behavior against Covid-19 in secondary school students based on Health Belief Model (HBM): a structural equations modeling (SEM).

Measures such as education, improving knowledge, attitude and taking preventive action to protect against COVID-19 are vital strategies for prevention. The aim of this study was to determine the predictability of Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs in performing preventive behaviors against COVID-19 among secondary school students in Chabahar, Iran. In this cross-sectional-analytical study, 400 secondary school students of Chabahar city were investigated by simple random sampling. The data collection tool was a questionnaire including demographic characteristics, knowledge, behavior, and Health Belief Model constructs' questions. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used to evaluate the validity of HBM constructs, and the structural equation modeling (SEM) method was used to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of the relationship between knowledge, HBM constructs, and preventive behavior against COVID-19 based on the conceptual model. Based on the results of the structural modeling, the direct effect of knowledge on the constructs of the health belief model was positive and significant (ß = 0.34, P-value < 0.001), and on the preventive behavior of students was insignificant (ß = 0.12, P-value = 0.07) while the indirect effect of knowledge through increasing the constructs of the HBM on student behavior was positive and significant (ß = 0.30, P < 0.001). The relationship between the constructs of the HBM constructs and student behavior was also positive and significant (ß = 0.89, P-value < 0.001).Due to the fact that knowledge and HBM structures played a role in predicting the adoption of preventive behavior from COVID-19, it is possible to design appropriate interventions to increase knowledge, sensitivity, perceived severity, and self-efficacy, in order to recover from COVID-19 by adopting preventive behaviors.

Health Belief and Behavioral Analysis of Fad Diets: A Perspective from Younger Generations in a Developing Country.

The surge in popularity of fad diets has raised concerns about compromised health among individuals due to their beliefs and intentions regarding consumption. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of fad dieting among persons who are dieting and to determine the different factors influencing the inclination to adopt fad diets. Specifically, this study explored the ways in which individual openness to following fad diets, participation in diet trends, and characteristics may influence attitudes towards fad diet adoption. Data from 407 participants aged 18-34, collected via Google Forms, were analyzed using a high-ordered construct approach between the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and health belief model (HBM). Employing partial least squares structural equation modeling, significant results were obtained. The key findings revealed that knowledge about dieting, perceived benefits, and health motivation significantly influenced individuals' intentions to adopt fad diets. Additionally, the study demonstrated significant impacts of health motivation on attitude and perceived behavioral control, subsequently affecting individuals' intention to adopt dietary practices. Practical implications include the development of tailored health communication strategies for government agencies and informed decision-making support for individuals considering adopting fad diets. This research contributes valuable insights into the perception and psychological and social factors shaping dietary decisions, laying the groundwork for enhanced health education and intervention strategies. Furthermore, the study's theoretical framework offers potential for extension and application to health-related food consumption behaviors across diverse cultural contexts.

Cross-Cultural Patient Counseling and Communication in the Integrative Medicine Setting: Respecting the Patient's Health Belief Model of Care.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Communicating effectively with patients having a traditional, alternative or complementary medicine-related health-belief model is challenging in today's cross-cultural society. This narrative review explores the integrative medicine setting of care, focusing on insights from the integrative oncology daily practice, while addressing the relevance to the mental health setting. The way in which healthcare providers can enhance cultural-sensitive communication with patients and informal caregivers; recognize and respect health-beliefs to bridge cultural gaps; and generate an open, non-judgmental and mindful dialogue are discussed. RECENT FINDINGS: Identifying cross-cultural barriers to healthcare provider-patient communication is important in order to address the potential for conflict between conventional and "alternative" health beliefs; difficulties in creating a shared-decision making process; disagreement on therapeutic goals and treatment plan; and finally, the potential for non-compliance or non-adherence to the conventional oncology treatment. Acquiring intercultural competencies is needed at all stages of medical education, and should be implemented in medical and nursing curricula, as well as during specialization and sub-specialization. As with patient-centered paradigms of care, integrative medicine entails a dual patient-centered and sensitive-cultural approach, based on a comprehensive bio-psycho-social-spiritual model of care.

University Students' Vaccination Intention after the Fifth Wave of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Hong Kong: Inspiration from a Health Belief Model.

The fifth wave of COVID-19, driven by the Omicron variant, started to surge in Hong Kong in December 2021. Previous studies have shown that younger adults, compared to older adults, are vulnerable to increased risks of side effects after vaccination. However, little is known about the COVID-19 vaccination behavior among younger adults, especially university students, in Hong Kong. Therefore, the present online survey study aimed to investigate the predictors of COVID-19 vaccination intention among university students in Hong Kong using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a framework. Two other potential predictors, the previous influenza vaccine uptake frequency and the Hong Kong SAR government vaccination lottery program, were also examined. The intention to receive another dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was low (36.4%). Multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis showed that, after controlling for demographic and baseline characteristics, the perceived susceptibility (OR = 2.98, CI = 1.18-7.53) and previous influenza vaccine uptake frequency (OR = 1.54, CI = 1.08-2.19) significantly and positively predicted the COVID-19 vaccination intention. However, the government vaccination lottery program (i.e., wining prizes for being vaccinated) (OR = 0.87, CI = 0.34-2.26) was not a significant motivator of COVID-19 vaccination. Future public health campaigns should focus on the individual susceptibility to COVID-19 and past influenza vaccination history to promote increased vaccination uptake among university students.

The effectiveness of multidisciplinary interventions based on health belief model on musculoskeletal pain in the elderly living in nursing homes: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Due to the burden of musculoskeletal diseases in the elderly and the multifactorial nature of such conditions, controlling the pain caused by these disorders requires multidisciplinary approach. This approach requires the participation of the elderly in applying effective prevention measures. This study aims to design a multidisciplinary educational intervention based on health belief model (HBM) for elderly residents of nursing homes. METHODS: This is a parallel randomized clinical trial among elderly people aged 60 years and over living in a nursing home who suffer from musculoskeletal pain. Eligible participants will be divided into two groups including the intervention group who will receive a multidisciplinary intervention (vitamin D consumption, psycho-social stress management, and physiotherapy) and the control group who will receive usual care. Data collection instruments will include demographic data, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), the visual analogue scale (VAS), and a self-designed questionnaire containing the HBM constructs. The interventions will be carried out by the educational team (general practitioner, psychologist, physiotherapist, and health education specialist). Interventions include changing the wrong beliefs of the elderly, taking 800 units of vitamin D daily, daily walking exercise by the elderly for at least 30 min and maintaining proper body posture during daily activities, muscle relaxation, relaxation techniques, regular exercise, examining their diet and eliminating stimulants (such as smoking and coffee), regular visits with friends and family, and deep breathing techniques. All questionnaires will be completed by the elderly before, after, 3, and 6 months after the intervention. DISCUSSION: The present study will evaluate the effect of an educational intervention based on a multifaceted pain control approach for elderly people who reside in nursing homes in order to reduce musculoskeletal pain in the elderly living in nursing homes. One of the features of this study is its focus on improving the health of elderly residents in nursing homes. Given the increase in the elderly population worldwide, the findings from the current trial might benefit elderly populations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT20220904055881N1 . Registered on 11 February 2023.