Which construct of the Health Belief Model is illustrated by the scenario below? During your annual checkup, your healthcare provider recommended that you get the flu vaccine.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The construct of the Health Belief Model illustrated by this scenario is “Perceived Susceptibility”.
Perceived susceptibility refers to an individual’s belief about their likelihood of experiencing a health issue or disease. In this scenario, during the annual checkup, the healthcare provider suggests the flu vaccine. This recommendation may trigger the patient’s thoughts about how susceptible they are to contracting the flu. The provider’s advice is likely based on the patient’s age, medical history, or risk factors, which are cues that can increase the perception of vulnerability to the flu.
This construct of the Health Belief Model suggests that people are more likely to engage in health behaviors, such as getting vaccinated, if they believe they are at risk for a specific health issue. The recommendation for the flu vaccine acts as an external cue, increasing the patient’s awareness of their potential susceptibility to the flu.
Perceived susceptibility is one of several key constructs in the Health Belief Model, which also includes perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and cues to action. In this case, the healthcare provider’s recommendation serves as a cue to action, encouraging the patient to take the necessary steps to reduce their perceived risk.
When individuals recognize that they are susceptible to a health issue and understand the severity of that issue, they are more likely to perceive the benefits of taking preventive measures like vaccination. However, if the patient does not perceive themselves to be at risk, they may dismiss the recommendation, which emphasizes the importance of health professionals tailoring their advice to an individual’s specific circumstances and concerns.