Enhancing Health Knowledge, Health Beliefs, and Health Behavior in Poland through a Health Promoting Television Program Series

Abstract

This study examined the impact of a health promoting television program series on health knowledge and the key factors of the health belief model (HBM) that have led people to engage in healthy behavior (exercising, losing weight, changing eating habits, and not smoking/quitting smoking). Using data from a posttest comparison field study with 15) viewers and 146 nonviewers in Poland, we found that hierarchical regression analysis showed stronger support for the HBM factors of efficacy, susceptibility, seriousness, and salience in their contribution toward health behavior among television viewers compared with nonviewers. Cues to action variables (including television viewing) and health knowledge boosted efficacy among viewers. Without the advantage of receiving health information from the television series, nonviewers relied on their basic disease fears on one hand, and interest in good health on the other to take steps toward becoming healthier. A health promoting television series can increase health knowledge and enhance health beliefs, which in turn contribute to healthy behaviors.

Applying the Health Belief Model to Examine News Coverage Regarding Steroids in Sports by ABC, CBS, and NBC Between March 1990 and May 2008

“…Threat susceptibility refers to the likelihood of experiencing the dangers associated with the admonished behavior (Mattson, 1999). Similarly, threat severity pertains to the perceived dangers of performing a certain behavior (Chew et al, 2002). Within the context of the present study, individuals perceiving steroids to be harmful to users' health illustrates the latter component, whereas people believing that they may experience these health consequences by using steroids exemplifies the former.…”

“…More than two decades after its inception, the HBM remains one of the most popular theoretical frameworks to guide public health interventions (e.g., Chew, Palmer, Slonska, & Subbiah, 2002;Kennedy, O'Leary, Beck, Pollard, & Simpson, 2004;Mayer, Housemann, & Piepenbrok, 1999). For the purposes of the present investigation, the HBM serves as a theoretical guide in identifying key variables to analyze, which will provide a greater understanding of how the television news media communicate about steroids in sports.…”

“…In addition, both statistical and narrative evidence prompted participants to have decreased intentions to tan. Finally, Chew and colleagues examined the effectiveness of a television series promoting healthy lifestyles in Poland (Chew et al, 2002;Chew, Palmer, & Soohong, 1998). Their results reveal that threat severity and susceptibility, efficacy, and perceived salience were more closely related to beliefs about the dangers of not exercising, losing weight, changing eating habits, and quitting smoking compared to their nonviewing counterparts (Chew et al, 2002).…”

“…Finally, Chew and colleagues examined the effectiveness of a television series promoting healthy lifestyles in Poland (Chew et al, 2002;Chew, Palmer, & Soohong, 1998). Their results reveal that threat severity and susceptibility, efficacy, and perceived salience were more closely related to beliefs about the dangers of not exercising, losing weight, changing eating habits, and quitting smoking compared to their nonviewing counterparts (Chew et al, 2002). Moreover, Chew et al (1998) discovered that health motivation and salience mediate the association between perceived susceptibility and efficacy with respect to eating a healthy diet.…”

Readiness for treatment in high risk offenders with personality disorders

“…Other important cognitions are likely to involve perceptions and beliefs about therapeutic staff and about the programmes offered within the justice or health system. Self-efficacy beliefs (I am capable of engagement and change) are important (Bandura & Locke, 2003) as are beliefs about the benefits and costs of treatment for the individual, as emphasized by the Health Belief Model (Chew, Palmer, Slonska, & Subbiah, 2002).…”