State how the health belief model can be used to create an environmental health program addressing the issue.

Opioid crisis discussion due in 10 hours 9/15/2020

The Health Belief Model (HBM) can be used to create an effective environmental health program addressing a particular issue. The HBM consists of four main components: perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits and perceived barriers. These components serve as the foundation for designing interventions that target behaviors in order to improve environmental health outcomes.

To begin creating an environmental health program with the HBM model, it is important to identify the specific issue being addressed. After identifying the issue, stakeholders should then analyze how individuals perceive their susceptibility and severity of this particular problem or hazard in order to assess their level of concern and beliefs about taking action. Through surveys or focus groups, information can be gathered on why people are not engaging in behaviors that could help reduce exposure to the hazardous environment or why they are not taking adequate steps in protecting themselves from potential harm. This data can then be utilized to develop interventions targeting those factors that influence people’s behavior related to environmental health hazards.

By gaining insight into what motivates people’s behavior regarding environmental health risks and developing interventions that address these motivations, an effective environmental health program based on HMB principles can be implemented as well as sustained over time. Additionally, an evaluation process should also be established so any changes made during implementation of the program can be assessed for effectiveness and modifications or adjustments made accordingly if needed in order to maximize its impact.