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Factors influencing intentions to seek a cognitive status examination: a study based on the Health Belief Model
Author(s) -
Werner Perla
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.921
Subject(s) - psychology , cognition , health belief model , variance (accounting) , face validity , disease , clinical psychology , face (sociological concept) , developmental psychology , social psychology , gerontology , psychometrics , public health , health education , medicine , psychiatry , social science , sociology , nursing , accounting , pathology , business
Aims The aim of the present study was to examine the factors influencing intention to seek a cognitive status evaluation in the presence of memory problems. Methods A convenience sample of 186 community‐dwelling adults (mean age=64) were interviewed face‐to‐face using measures derived from the Health Belief Model. Results Participants' intentions to be examined were higher when presented with scenarios describing family history of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Perceived barriers and cues to action were significant predictors of intention, accounting for 24% of the variance. Conclusions These findings suggest the need to develop effective educational strategies to improve knowledge about AD and decision‐making concerning cognitive status examinations. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.