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Essay / HPV and the HPV Vaccine - 523
Theoretical Framework Health behavior theories provide guidance for investigating factors that contribute to health-related problems. This section will summarize applicable constructs from the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The literature shows that the most effective health promotion programs and initiatives were based on an understanding of health behaviors and the contexts in which they occurred (Glanz & Bishop, 2010). Therefore, according to the concepts of these two theories, an individual's knowledge, perceived risk, and attitude could help predict their intentions to adopt or reject a particular health behavior. The ability to effectively predict and explain health-related intentions is important for researchers and professionals interested in developing interventions aimed at positively changing behaviors (McEachan, Conner, Taylor, & Lawton, 2011). Researchers who developed the health belief model sought to understand the reasons why people rejected preventive health measures (Carpenter, 2010). Individual elements of this model include perceptions of (a) susceptibility...