Use of the Health Belief Model to examine older adults' food-handling behaviors.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the association among Health Belief Model (HBM) variables and safe food-handling behaviors among older adults.


METHODS
A mail survey using Dillman's Total Design Method.


METHODS
In October 1999, a survey was sent to volunteers from a preexisting cohort of noninstitutionalized older adults living throughout Nevada. Data collection continued through January 2000.


METHODS
With a 56% response rate, the sample (n = 266) was composed mainly of women (73%) and individuals from urban counties (74%). The mean age was 68.09 years (SD = 8.27). Except for gender, sample characteristics were similar to those of the preexisting cohort.


METHODS
Perceived threat of foodborne illness (ie, perceived severity and perceived susceptibility), cues to action (ie, media cues and educational cues), and safe food-handling behaviors (ie, sanitation and cross-contamination).


METHODS
Rank order correlation coefficients were computed to measure the association among variables. Significance was set at P <.05.


RESULTS
Cues to action were positively related to perceived threat of foodborne illness and safe food-handling behaviors. Perceived severity of foodborne illness was positively related to one dimension of safe food-handling behaviors (ie, sanitation).


CONCLUSIONS
The HBM is a useful framework for examining food-handling behaviors among older adults.
Hanson
Jennifer A
JA
Department of Nutrition, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA.
Benedict
Jamie A
JA
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009505:Nevada; D012499:Sanitation