The Health Belief Model in the research of AIDS-related preventive behavior.

Studies of AIDS-related behavior change which used a systematic psychosocial conceptual model--The Health Belief Model (HBM)--are reviewed. Based on this, it is suggested for further studies: (1) to differentiate among different patterns of potential behavioral change--acceptance of new behaviors, change of existing behaviors, and maintenance of current behaviors; (2) to widen the conceptual model, (3) to use a similar model systematically in studies of different populations. A proposed application of an extended version of the HBM for the study of condom use among adolescents is presented.