Applying the health belief model to the prediction of attendance at health checks in general practice

Journal/Book: Brit J Clin Psychol. 1995; 34: St Andrews House, 48, Princess Rd, East, Leicester, Leics, England LE1 7DR. British Psychological Soc. 461-470.

Abstract: This paper reports a prospective study which sought to assess the role of the health belief model (HBM) in predicting attendance at health checks in general practice. Conducted in a single practice, 299 patients were invited to attend a health check. These patients were sent invitation letters containing either an appointment or an open invitation. The results first showed that the sending or appointment letters led to a higher attendance rate (59.2 vs. 26.5 per cent). Second, when the predictors of attendance behaviour were considered it was found that, compared with nonattenders, those who attended in response to an appointment letter were more likely to have intended to attend while those who attended in response to an open letter were more likely to have placed a high value on their health. These results are consistent with Marteau et al.'s (1992) claim that attendance at screening should be viewed as a heterogeneous behaviour, such that the health beliefs which distinguish attenders from non-attenders should be seen to vary according to the way in which patients are invited.

Note: Article P Norman, Univ Wales Swansea, Dept Psychol, Singleton Pk, Swansea SA2 8PP, W Glam, Wales

Keyword(s): CONTROLLED TRIAL; BREAST-CANCER; INVITATION

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