Assessing health beliefs and patient delay among breast cancer patients in West Sumatra, Indonesia

Delays in receiving a breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and treatment continue to be a major public health concern, particularly in environments where financial status, cultural values, and religious beliefs have a significant impact on how individuals react to disease. However, there are still few established, culturally appropriate instruments for assessing Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs and comprehending how they contribute to patient delay. In this study, a protocol for evaluating HBM components and investigating their connection to patient delay among patients with BC in West Sumatra, Indonesia, is presented. A 31-item questionnaire encompassing six HBM domains: perceived risk, severity, benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action was used to gather data from 250 BC patients in this cross-sectional study. Exploratory factor analysis revealed five meaningful latent constructs, and one poorly performing item was removed to strengthen the instrument. Good internal consistency was shown by the final tool (Cronbach's α: 0.809–0.871). Associations between HBM components and patient delay were then examined through logistic regression using crude and adjusted models. The protocol proved practical and feasible in a community setting.