Improving compliance for asthmatic patients visiting the emergency department using a health belief model intervention.

The sample included 74 asthmatic patients presenting to an emergency department with an acute asthmatic attack. The purposes of the study were: to assess demographic and situational variables associated with compliance, and to test the impact of a Health Belief Model (HBM) intervention to increase compliance. Compliance was operationalized as making and/or keeping a follow-up referral appointment for the patient's asthmatic condition. Demographic and situational variables associated with compliance included age, sex, marital status, previous treatment experience, seriousness of the asthmatic condition, and need for child care. Most important, the HBM intervention was very effective in increasing compliance in both making and keeping a follow-up referral appointment.