Using the Health Belief Model to Predict Pre-Travel Health Decisions among U.S.-Based Travelers

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Travel Medicine
• Health Behavior Theory

Background:

• International travelers face heightened infectious disease risks.
• A significant portion of American travelers to high-risk regions do not seek pre-travel health information.
• The Health Belief Model (HBM) provides a framework for understanding health-related decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply the Health Belief Model (HBM) to identify factors influencing pre-travel health decisions among international travelers.
• To analyze the impact of perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy on health information seeking and healthcare utilization.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed 604 participants who recently traveled to at-risk countries.
• Categorized survey questions based on the HBM constructs.
• Utilized logistic regression to analyze the relationship between HBM variables and pre-travel health behaviors (information seeking, clinic visits, vaccination).

Main Results:

• 55% sought health information, 41% visited a healthcare provider (HCP), and 27% received a vaccine.
• Perceived susceptibility and benefits were key predictors for seeking information, visiting an HCP, and receiving a vaccine.
• Perceived susceptibility was more influential for information seeking and HCP visits, while benefits influenced all outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Perceived susceptibility to disease and the perceived benefits of interventions are critical drivers of pre-travel health behaviors.
• Healthcare providers and public health organizations can leverage these insights to improve traveler health education and vaccine uptake.
• Targeted interventions addressing perceived risks and benefits can enhance pre-travel health preparedness.