Abstract

Individual perceptions about preventive behaviours against an infectious disease play an important role in taking appropriate actions to reduce the risk of infection. We developed a Health Belief Model (HBM) by survey instrument in order to understand student perceptions of the influenza virus and two preventive behaviours; hand-washing and vaccination. An educational program was delivered to the treatment group. This health education program was developed by a health promotion specialist and it aimed to increase preventive behaviours and awareness of influenza. The control group answered the questionnaire without receiving an educational program. The two groups were compared and the relationship between preventive behaviours and HBM variables were analysed. An Agent Based Model (ABM) was developed to simulate influenza transmission based on students’ health beliefs and how likely they are to apply preventive behaviours.