An assessment of osteoporosis health beliefs based on the health belief model

Abstract

Osteoporosis health beliefs are components of theoretical models that predict changes in osteoporosis preventive behaviors. A literature review was conducted to assess osteoporosis health beliefs, particular those of the health belief model (HBM), such as the perceived susceptibility to osteoporosis, perceived severity of osteoporosis, perceived benefits of osteoporosis preventive behaviors to prevent osteoporosis, perceived barriers to osteoporosis preventive behaviors, and self-efficacy for osteoporosis preventive behaviors. To find research that assessed these osteoporosis health beliefs based on the HBM, a search was conducted to determine which articles used the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale and Osteoporosis Self-Efficacy Scale to determine measures for each of the osteoporosis health beliefs based on the HBM, but also included these health beliefs measured with other instruments. Having assessed these osteoporosis health beliefs, they can be applied to theoretical models, such as the HBM, for creating and implementing interventions that predict osteoporosis preventive behaviors. The assessment of osteoporosis health beliefs was also compared with health beliefs of other diseases, such as heart disease and breast cancer, and an assessment was done in demographic groups in addition to Caucasian women that have been less investigated, such as women of Asian, African, and Hispanic race, and in men. A summary is provided to aid in the application of the findings of this literature review for researchers and practitioners.

Keywords::

• health belief model
• osteoporosis health beliefs
• osteoporosis preventive behaviors