Planning and Intervention Models: CDCynergy and the Health Belief Model - Essay Example

The CDCynergy model presents the user with a step-by-step detailed tutorial, case examples, and a wealth of resources, in addition to a diverse media library and a cumulative evaluation plan (CDC, 2006; Society for Public Health Education, 2005). The entire process is divided into the following clearly defined phases (CDC, 2003): McIntyre and Venette (2006) examined the use of the CDCynergy Event Assessment Tool during the anthrax crisis in Boca Raton, Florida. Their study found that "the tool functioned in a binary manner by first indicating a moderate crisis level (on 4 October) and then four days later (on 8 October) a highly intense crisis, suggesting that it is time sensitive".

The authors go on to recommend that the tool must be enhanced to enable prediction of possible escalation of crisis situations. The HBM was originally developed as a systematic method to explain and predict preventive health behavior. It focused on the relationship of health behaviors, practices and utilization of health services. In later years, the HBM has been revised to include general health motivation for the purpose of distinguishing illness and sick-role behavior from health behavior.

It is generally regarded as the beginning of systematic, theory-based research in health behaviour (Brown, 1999). 2. 2.2. Basic outline of the HBMThe HBM is based upon the following constructs (Brown, 1999):1. The perceived susceptibility is the individual's own perception of the likelihood of experiencing a condition that would adversely affect his/her health. 2. The perceived seriousness refers to the beliefs a person holds concerning the effects a given disease or condition would have on one's state of affairs.

These include pain and discomfort, loss of work time, financial burdens, difficulties with family, relationships, and susceptibility to future conditions. 3. The perceived benefits of taking action, or the benefits that the individual perceives as a result of his/her taking the desired action.4. The barriers to taking action, which relate to the characteristics of a treatment or preventive measure. Thus, the action may be inconvenient, expensive, unpleasant, painful or upsetting. These characteristics may lead a person away from taking the desired action.5. Cues to action constitute external or internal influences promoting the desired behaviour2.3. Application of the Health Belief Model: Case StudyThe health belief model has seen innumerable applications to a wide range of health related behaviours, the enumeration of which is beyond the scope of this essay.

However, the following example from a recent study serves to