The HBM has been applied to all study all types of health behavior. Individual perceptions are factors that affect the perception of illness or disease, they deal with the importance of health to the individual, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity. Modifying factors include demographic variables, perceived threat, and cues to action. The combination of these factors causes a response that often manifests into action, provided it is accompanied by a rational alternative course of action. Other theories have contributed to the development of this theory.
Individuals vary widely in their perception of susceptibility to a disease or condition.
Those at low end of the extreme deny the possibility of contracting an adverse condition. Individuals in a moderate category admit to a statistical possibility of disease susceptibility. Those individuals at the high extreme of susceptibility feel there is real danger that they will experience an adverse condition or contract a given disease. 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 effects can be considered from the point of view of the difficulties that a disease would create.