A new approach to explaining sick-role behavior in low-income populations.

Abstract

Although adherence to medical instructions is usually essential to successful health outcomes, compliance rates (especially in low-income populations) are very inadequate, and little is known about factors influencing such sick-role behaviors. The present study examines the explanatory value of a behavioral model, derived from social psychological theory, and employing health motivations, perceptions, and attitudes of mothers as predictors of compliance with regimens prescribed for their children. poor compliance in pediatric clinic populations identify a public health concern of considerable magnitude.S57 The situation is typified by Bergman and Werner's8 study of clinic children placed on the 10-day course of penicillin necessitated by streptococcal infections. While about 90 per cent of the parents correctly reported their child's diagnosis and knew the name of the medicine and the proper way to administer it, 56 per cent of the patients were not receiving the medication by the 3rd day; 71 per cent had stopped by the 6th day; and by the 9th day only 18 per cent were still receiving penicillin. Given further qualifications of free medication, physician awareness of the study, and advance notification of families that they would be visited "to see how the child was doing," these disturbing findings probably represent conservative estimates of actual noncompliance in low income populations.Unfortunately The current research attempts to test empirically' a "behavioral" model of compliance, based on social psychological theory' 2,1 3 and relying mainly on motivational and cognitive factors. The model borrows heavily from an existing public health formulation, the "Health Belief Model," constructed to predict "preventive" health behaviors such as obtaining annual checkups, tuberculosis and Papanicolaou screening tests, and prophylactic dental ViSitS.1 4-1 8The elements of the traditional Health Belief Model are displayed in Figure 1; they include the individual's perceptions of susceptibility to a disease, the severity of the disease, and the benefits and costs associated with paths of action that can be taken to prevent it. These perceptions are affected by diverse demographic, structural, and sociopsychological variables. A "cue" or triggering mechanism is also held to be necessary for initiating appropriate action.Rosenstock' 8 has reviewed in detail the components of the model and the empirical support for it. Some reviewers' X have stated that these variables provide a satisfactory explanation for the majority of findings in the area of preventive health behavior, and recent research' 9 has confirmed that they can explain some aspects of health action prospectively.There would seem to be no inherent reason why the same type of formulation should not apply to actions taken by individuals who know that they are ill in order to become well, especially if the concept of susceptibility is extended to mean the probability of progressive effects or of recurrence. For example, Heinzelmann20 has demonstrated continued ...

Examining Health Beliefs, Attitudes and Behaviours Relate to Complementary and Orthodox Medicine Use in Chinese Population

“…A positive correlation between knowledge of cancer genetics and use of CM has been confirmed by study [15] on cancer survivors, and a positive association between perceived risk and CM use was found in unaffected people, but not in cancer patients. It has been consistently demonstrated that risk and knowledge perception are important factors motivating people to seek information or professional help for health related issues [16,17], supporting the Health Belief Model [18] which suggests that perceived susceptibility is a strong contributor in preventive health behaviours. H1N1 flu (swine flu) was a relatively unfamiliar infectious disease at the time the current research was conducted, thus it was intriguing to investigate people's attitudes and therapeutic choice for illnesses that they never experienced and were unfamiliar with.…”

Comparative Research at International Level on the Relationship between Economic Conditions and Crimes against Property (Crisis Vs Growth)

“…In conclusion, both in times of growth and in times of recession, crime are being affecting quantitatively and structurally as Becker et al [19] put it in the economic theory of crime: potential criminals spend their time both illegal and legitimate activities, which depended on taking risks and rewards associated with each other. The legal rewards will depend on the levels of wages and illegal, in an extent, on the availability of goods for theft.…”

Health Consciousness and Brand Equity in the Carbonated Soft Drink Industry in Sri Lanka

“…The relationship between HC and CBBE is explained by using the health belief model theory and brand value concept (e.g., Becker, Drachman & Kirscht, 1974;Dawar, 1998;Dawar & Pillutla, 2000;Kamakura & Russell, 1993;Narayana, 2009). In fact, the health belief model theory is rooted from a well established body of psychological and behavioral theory (Janz & Becker, 1984) and it is designed by Hochbaum et al in the 1950s (Glanz & Rimer, 1995;Janz & Becker, 1984;Rosenstock, 1974).…”

“…According to the health belief model theory people expect health actions to prevent illness, since they do not want to get sick and these health actions for prevent sick creates better choices, especially brand choice (e.g., Becker et al, 1974;Janz & Becker, 1984;Narayana, 2009). In other words, the health belief model theory supports the HC and brand choice and therefore, this study makes link between the HC and CBBE by using this model.…”