Health/Illness Belief Assessment Tool
Assessment
Identify patient’s age, gender,
cultural background, religious
affiliation and compare to your
personal information.
Discuss the patient’s support
system (family and community).
Who does the patient consult
for information and assistance
related to health needs? What
are your personal beliefs
regarding support systems
related to the patient’s level of
support?
Discuss the patient’s perception
of the personal level of health
and wellness. Compare the
patient’s perception of the
nurse’s belief of the patient’s
level of health.
What are the patient’s beliefs
or concerns related to
hereditary health issues in their
family or culture? Compare the
patient’s beliefs or concerns
with the nurse’s personal
beliefs.
Patient’s health/illness beliefs, values,
attitudes, and practices
The nurse’s beliefs. (You are the
nurse).
Comparison. Explain what is
similar and/or different between
you and the patient?
Health/Illness Belief Assessment Tool
What would trigger a visit to a
health care provider? Compare
the patient’s beliefs to the
nurse’s personal beliefs.
What type of health care
provider would they seek for
primary health care? Compare
to the nurse’s personal beliefs.
When would they visit a health
care provider for pain issues?
What level of pain would trigger
a visit, and what type of
provider would they visit for
pain? Compare to the nurse’s
personal beliefs.
When would they visit a health
care provider for mental health
issues? What would they
consider a mental health issue?
What type of provider would
they visit for mental health
issues? Compare with the
nurse’s personal beliefs.
How do personal, familial,
cultural, or religious beliefs
impact choices of foods and
nutrition? Who do they consult
for nutritional information?
Compare with the nurse’s
personal beliefs.
Health/Illness Belief Assessment Tool
What barriers does the patient
perceive in accessing care for
health (pain, mental and
physical health) or nutritional
needs? Compare with the
nurse’s personal beliefs.
How might knowledge of this
patient’s beliefs impact your
plan of care for this patient?
How will this knowledge assist
your ability to provide
evidence-based, patientcentered, culturally competent
care?
References