Introduction
Jane Smith’s case demonstrates differences in the perception of health problems among her family members. Being active and healthy throughout her life, the woman who has always resisted challenges faces misunderstanding from her loved ones. To help her find optimal pain management mechanisms and help build relationships with her husband and children, the health belief model is a suitable theory to utilize. Applying this concept in the context of Mrs. Smith’s case is a promising strategy that may contribute to addressing her health problem and changing attitudes toward the woman’s issues among her loved ones.
Health Belief Model Description
The health belief model is a concept that reflects attitudes and behavioral responses regarding certain health aspects in the context of medical services. As Khan et al. (2023) note, this methodological framework was first introduced in 1950 as a mechanism to assess the reasons for the reluctance of some patients regarding proposed preventive measures. This model aims to stimulate change in patient behaviors to achieve optimal health outcomes through adequate and effective interventions. According to Khan et al. (2023), the concept includes different tools of influence and can be aimed at addressing preventive and sick-role behaviors and provider-patient interactions. The model can also be utilized as a predictive framework that allows providers to anticipate relevant diseases for timely prevention.
Relevance of the Model to the Patient’s Case
Since Mrs. Smith’s case concerns the patient’s doubts about the possibilities of using various pain relief methods, the presented model can influence her decision-making process. Carneiro et al. (2021) give an example of using media resources as auxiliary materials that make it possible to form appropriate incentives in target patients, including those regarding pain management options.
At the same time, given the patient’s confusion, her behavior should be based on a clear understanding of the final goals. Preventive intervention strategies are irrelevant in this case because she already has a specific health issue. Accordingly, sick-role behaviors are more important to address with the help of the health belief model. Mrs. Smith’s belief in her invulnerability needs to be changed by describing her specific steps for recovery and, no less critically, justifying why she should follow medical prescriptions.
Interaction with the Family
In this case, one of the main problems that require intervention and the use of the health belief model is the lack of understanding of loved ones. Mrs. Smith notes that neither her husband nor the children listen to her worries, which creates insecurity in her. Given such a scenario, Caneiro et al.’s (2021) idea seems relevant, as it relates to dependency on family members’ opinions and the fear of changing related behaviors.
To help the patient, her loved ones should receive comprehensive information about her health risks. Both husband and children must understand what protracted pain is fraught with and what prerequisites it may have. Therefore, one of the initial tasks is to form an understanding of Mrs. Smith’s problems among her family members and predict the consequences of ignoring the relevant issues.
Role of Attitudes and Beliefs in Compliance with Care
The patient’s and her family members’ beliefs and attitudes make adherence to prescribed care options difficult. Yazdanpanah et al. (2019) cite an example of interaction with older patients and note that simple educational interventions may not have the desired effect in the case of the persistent reluctance of the target participants. In the present case, the reluctance of Mrs. Smith’s loved ones to accept her health issue can make medical care challenging; moreover, the patient herself, convinced of her invulnerability, demonstrates incorrect behavioral patterns. Therefore, to avoid non-compliance and ignoring the specific steps, all members of Mrs. Smith’s family, including herself, should be fully aware of all possible risks and potential adverse outcomes.
The Usefulness of the Theory
In a usual clinical setting, using the health belief model may have undeniable benefits and help achieve positive patient outcomes. For instance, one valuable implication is that readmission rates can be reduced by changing patient behaviors. Self-care quality is enhanced, and people are less likely to need qualified medical care. Another advantage of using the model under consideration is the efficiency of planning. According to Kroke and Ruthig (2021), by leveraging this concept, healthcare professionals can anticipate specific outcomes and evaluate the benefits of appropriate interventions. Thus, the health belief model can be usefully applied in a usual clinical setting.
Conclusion
The health belief model is an appropriate methodology to address Jane Smith’s health issue and stimulate behavioral change for the patient and her family members. Ignoring the woman’s problem and her loved ones is a severe deterrent and requires adopting adequate measures, such as an educational intervention, to present potential risks. The involvement of all family members is required because reluctance to change behavior is a critical barrier. The model is a valuable concept for reducing readmission rates and achieving efficient intervention planning in a usual clinical setting.
References
Caneiro, J. P., Bunzli, S., & O’Sullivan, P. (2021). Beliefs about the body and pain: The critical role in musculoskeletal pain management. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy, 25(1), 17-29. Web.
Khan, M. A., Khan, R. Q., Hussain, Z., & Mansoor, I. (2023). From theory to practice: Effectiveness assessment of health belief model applications in patient interventions. Rawal Medical Journal, 48(1), 231-234.
Kroke, A. M., & Ruthig, J. C. (2021). Conspiracy beliefs and the impact on health behaviors. Applied Psychology: Health and Well‐Being, 14(1), 311-328. Web.
Yazdanpanah, Y., Saleh Moghadam, A. R., Mazlom, S. R., Haji Ali Beigloo, R., & Mohajer, S. (2019). Effect of an educational program based on health belief model on medication adherence in elderly patients with hypertension. Evidence Based Care, 9(1), 52-62. Web.