Define Health Belief Model constructs that predict preventive health behaviors and provide an example of how to address perceived barriers.

• A. Perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy. Address barriers by reducing costs, improving access, and offering supportive resources.
• B. Perceived only severity; address by increasing cost.
• C. Cues to action are irrelevant; address by slogans.
• D. Self-efficacy is optional; address by warning messages.

Answer: (A)

The question tests the Health Belief Model’s key constructs that shape whether someone will engage in preventive health actions. The model includes six components: perceived susceptibility (one’s belief about getting a condition), perceived severity (how serious one thinks the condition would be), perceived benefits (belief that the action will reduce risk or improve outcomes), perceived barriers (obstacles to taking the action), cues to action (triggers that prompt action), and self-efficacy (confidence in one's ability to perform the action). To address perceived barriers specifically, you’d focus on lowering what people see as obstacles: reduce costs or financial barriers, improve access by offering more convenient or nearby services, and provide supportive resources such as transportation, reminders, or assistance that make it easier to act. By lowering these perceived obstacles, the likelihood that someone will follow through with the preventive behavior increases. The other constructs work together to influence motivation and readiness: susceptibility and severity shape how threatening the condition feels, benefits weigh the value of the action, cues to action trigger the decision to act, and self-efficacy supports the actual performance of the behavior.