Introduction
A health promotion model is a process that enables patients/people to enhance control over,
and to improve their health. An example of a model is the behavioral change model that focuses on
patient lifestyle behaviors that affect his or her health. A specific example is the health belief model that
offers patients with information on how they can change their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors towards
a specific disease.
The health belief model is helpful in teaching behavioral changes. The model identifies key
factors to belief change as the perceived susceptibility of the disease, the belief of consequence, and
potential positive impact or benefits of action. The other factors are perceived barriers of action,
exposure to factors that prompt action, and self-efficacy. The model ensures change by highlighting the
negative consequences of the patient behaviors, highlighting the risk of disease, and offering positive
cues to prompt action for change.
The main barriers include a general lack of confidence to learn by the patient and limited
exposure to factors that prompt positive behaviors. The other barriers are poor communication of
disease severity and misunderstanding of the patient needs.
The patient’s readiness to learn/change affects the learning outcomes since readiness is
determined by each individual’s perception of the threat posed by the negative behaviors on his or her
health. The patient’s readiness is also determined by the available barriers like individual belief and
attitudes towards the perceived consequences of the negative behavior and benefits of learning new
behaviors.