The Health Belief Model

The Health Belief Model (HBM) is a psychological model that attempts to explain and predict health behaviors. This is done by focusing on the attitudes and beliefs of individuals. The HBM was first developed in the 1950s by social psychologists Hochbaum, Rosenstock and Kegels working in the U.S. Public Health Services. The model was developed in response to the failure of a free tuberculosis (TB) health screening program. Since then, the HBM has been adapted to explore a variety of long- and short-term health behaviors, including sexual risk behaviors and the transmission of HIV/AIDS.
The Health Belief Model has three broad areas of health behaviors. 1) Preventive health behaviors, which include health-promoting (like diet, exercise) and health-risk (like smoking) behaviors as well as vaccination and contraceptive practices. 2) Sick role behaviors, which refer to compliance with recommended medical regimens, usually following professional diagnosis of illness. 3) Clinic use, which includes physician visits for a variety of reasons.
References:
Health Belief Model. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2016, from https://www.utwente.nl/cw/theorieenoverzicht/theory clusters/health communication/health_belief_model/