There are several limitations of the HBM which limit its utility in public health. Limitations of the model include the following:
(http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-Modules/SB/SB721-Models/SB721-Models2.html)
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1925084/)
(http://ojphi.org/article/viewFile/4321/3395)
- It does not account for a person's attitudes, beliefs, or other individual determinants that dictate a person's acceptance of a health behavior.
- It does not take into account behaviors that are habitual and thus may inform the decision-making process to accept a recommended action (e.g., smoking).
- It does not take into account behaviors that are performed for non-health related reasons such as social acceptability.
- It does not account for environmental or economic factors that may prohibit or promote the recommended action.
- It assumes that everyone has access to equal amounts of information on the illness or disease.
- It assumes that cues to action are widely prevalent in encouraging people to act and that "health" actions are the main goal in the decision-making process.
(http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-Modules/SB/SB721-Models/SB721-Models2.html)
- Developing interventions to promote long-term medication adherence for TB and HIV/AIDS?
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1925084/)
- Towards an Effective Health Interventions Design: An Extension of the Health Belief Model
(http://ojphi.org/article/viewFile/4321/3395)