title: Health risk perception and betel chewing behavior--the evidence from Taiwan.
abstract: In this study, we provided an empirical examination of the interaction between people's health risk perception and betel chewing. We hypothesized that a better knowledge of possible health risks would reduce both the number of individuals who currently chew betel and the likelihood of those who do not yet chew betel to begin the habit. We constructed a simultaneous equation model with Bayesian two-stage approach to control the endogeneity between betel chewing and risk perception. Using a national survey of 26,684 observations in Taiwan, our study results indicated that better health knowledge reduced the possibility that people would become betel chewers. We also found that, in general, betel chewers have a poorer health risk perception than other population. Overall, the empirical evidence suggested that health authorities could reduce the odds of people becoming betel chewers by improving their knowledge of betel-chewing's harmful effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, National Chi-Nan University, 1 University Rd., Puli, Nantou Hsien 545, Taiwan, ROC. ming@ncnu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Chiang-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kuo-Liang
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jwo-Leun
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001114:Areca / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication; D010465:Perception; D018570:Risk Assessment; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: Bayesian learning process; Betel chewing; Risk perception