Theory / Conceptual Model Paper

Theory / Conceptual Model Paper
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Theory / Conceptual Model Paper
The Health Belief Model emphasizes that messages will attain optimal behavior change when they can counter their perceived barriers. Accordingly, the ability of the model to explain and predict health behaviors ensures that the attitudes and beliefs of individuals are taken into consideration when evaluating the psychological aspects of the patient. The model is dependent on the assumption and understanding that individuals can make the appropriate courses of action when they face threats. The degree of their perceived susceptibility is dependent on the measures, which are undertaken to guarantee self-efficacy or confidence to act.
The paper by Quast, Knobloch, Patterson, Purvis, Shirley, and Safdar (2016) gives information on patient perceptions regarding catheter-associated urinary tract infections and their attitudes on indwelling catheters. The study identified that a majority of the patients who perceived catheters to be convenient were unaware of the infections or any other dangers associated with them. Interestingly, catheter-associated urinary tract infections are a common healthcare-associated infection. Quast et al. (2016), document that up to 30% of the infections in healthcare facilities are linked to the use of catheters. However, such infections are preventable when all the stakeholders who use the catheters are aware of its appropriate use and proper insertion and maintenance methods.

Given the focus of the study, it is evident that it is capable of describing the key features of its conceptual model. Besides, it gives relevant information regarding overall positive perception and a paucity in education regarding the use of the catheter. It is evident that with education and a better understanding regarding the risks of the use of catheters when not used appropriately will help form the basis for safe use of catheters. It will also develop an ideal method for reducing perceived disease threats.
The theory provides a possible mechanism to understand the challenges associated with the use of catheters. Evidently, it starts by describing that catheter-associated infections are all preventable. However, the lack of knowledge regarding their proper use poses significant dangers to the users. Thus, the Health Belief Model is appropriate in that it gives information regarding the perceived susceptibility of a component and the cues to action that will ensure proper use of the catheters. The model helps describe the individual perceptions, respective modifying factors, and the likelihood of action.
The three variables of the conceptual model help in the understanding of how the Health Belief Model is appropriate for understanding the challenges that face patients and health providers with regards to the use of catheters. The perceived susceptibility of catheter-associated infections is significantly low. The patients mentioned that using catheters when hospitalized offered a higher level of convenience for them. The outcomes were evident that the patients lacked appropriate information regarding the risks of using catheters and alternative methods of staying safe. An analysis using the modifying factors indicated that the patients required sufficient information and guidance on catheter use. The lack of knowledge amongst patient populations and the impending risks regarding them was a complicating factor for the populace especially the elderly.
An ideal mechanism to make people aware of the risks of a subject is through offering relevant guidance and education. The health professionals would be instrumental in providing relevant information with regards to decision-making. When health professionals guide the patients, they will be aware of the challenges that would face them when they use catheters in their quest for comfort (Quast et al., 2016). The model plays an instrumental role in creating positive perceptions to determine patient-centered strategies that would reduce the use of the urinary catheter.
The final component of the model looks at the likelihood of action to undertake for patients who are at risk of contracting catheter-associated infections. The willingness of the patient to take up advice is essential in ensuring self-efficacy. An assessment of the perceived benefits of using catheters and barriers to their use can provide relevant details to help patients compare the effectiveness of using the instruments for comfort against the perceived dangers associated with them. Accordingly, the health benefit model offers the reliable method upon which users can ascertain the gains that they stand to receive when they use the catheter over other options. With proper education, the use of catheters will be limited to those that have undergone complex surgical procedures and thus, may require help in responding to their call needs. Creating awareness of the risks of the catheters would help its users make informed decisions that would also enable them to avoid catheter-associated infections.
The conceptual model offers a possible mechanism upon which the appropriateness of the health benefits model can be used in enabling users to make informed decisions regarding the use of catheters. For a majority of the patients, the comfort associated with their use overruled the impending dangers of the catheter. As a result, the ideal mechanism is to ensure that patients are aware of both the negative and positive elements associated with the use of catheters to their health.
Reference
Quast, J., Knobloch, M. J., Patterson, E., Purvis, S., Shirley, D., & Safdar, N. (2016). Understanding Inpatient Perceptions of Indwelling Urinary Catheters Using the Health Belief Model. infection control & hospital epidemiology, 37(9), 1098-1100.