Health Behavior and Health Education
theory, research, and practice
theory, research, and practice
About the study: This was a cross-sectional study of N=1961 older Americans, ages 50-75 years, representing 5 ethnic groups. A telephone survey was administered to assess barriers to flu vaccinations using the HBM constructs below.
Constructs measured: Perceived Severity, Perceived Susceptibility, Perceived Barriers
Construct | Survey Item | Number of Items in the Scale | Response Categories |
Perceived Severity | How would getting the flu affect your life? | 1 | 3 point scale ranging from "make you very sick" to "is no big deal." |
Perceived Susceptibility | How concerned are you about getting the flu? | 1 | 3 point scale ranging from "very concerned" to "not at all concerned" |
Perceived Barriers | What is the main reason you did not get a flu shot in the past year? | 1 (open-ended question) | Coded as 12 response categories |
Source: Chen J.Y., Fox S.A., Cantrell C.H., Stockdale S.E., Kagawa-Singer M. (2007). Health Disparities and Prevention: Racial/Ethnic Barriers to Flu Vaccination. Journal of Community Health, 32(1), 5-20.
About the study: This was a mixed-methods study which surveyed N= 500 pregnant women in Tanzania about their willingness to accept voluntary HIV counseling and testing. HBM constructs were applied to assess individuals' perceptions about counseling and testing and its influence on health behavior. Six focus groups totaling N= 46 pregnant women was also conducted assessing the same HBM constructs used in the survey.
Constructs Measured: Perceived Susceptibility, Perceived Severity, Perceived Barriers, Cues to Action, Self-Efficacy
Construct | Survey Item/Content Area | Number of Items in the Scale | Response Categories |
Perceived Severity | To what extent one thought HIV/AIDS threatened the health of the local community? | 1 | 4 point scale ranging from "no threat at all" to "serious threat" |
Perceived Susceptibility | Perceived chances of contracting HIV? Possibility of protecting themselves? |
2 | 5 point scale ranging from "low" to "high" |
Perceived Barriers | Had ever heard anyone talking in a derogatory way abut people with AIDS? Had ever seen or heard of people with AIDS being avoided, rejected, sent away or treated badly in any way? Disclosure, partner involvement, and confidentiality were also assessed (3 items) |
5 | First two items based on a 5 point scale, ranging from "never" to "frequently" Last three items were based on a 3 point scale (see De Paoli et al, 2004) |
Cues to Action | Assessed readiness to accept voluntary counseling and testing Asked if knew an adult or child who had HIV/AIDS |
2 | 3 point scale |
Self-Efficacy | Based on the assumption that breastfeeding would not be advised to feed a newborn, how sure can one follow the advice How sure can one find an alternate feeding strategy |
2 | Each item based on 5 point scale ranging from "definitely not confident" to "very confident" |
Source: De Paoli M.M., Manongi R., Klepp K.I. (2004). Factors influencing acceptability of voluntary counseling and HIV-testing among pregnant women in Northern Tanzania. AIDS Care,16(4),411-2