Theories Of Health Behavior Change

Question 1

What are the leading causes of death?

Answer 1

Human behaviors: tobacco and alcohol consumption, dietary behaviors, physical activity and sexual practices.

Question 2

What influences better health outcomes?

Answer 2

Behavior changes

Question 3

Why is it important to understand behaviors?

Answer 3

Understanding behaviors can inform policies, and reduce avoidable mobility and mortality.

Question 4

According to Davis et al what is important in maximizing the potential efficacy of interventions?

Answer 4

Understanding health behaviors and behavior change.

Question 5

What might increase the effectiveness of interventions according to Davis et al?

Answer 5

More appropriate theory.

Question 6

According to an article by Davis et al, “Most theories applied to public health interventions tend to emphasise individual capabilities and motivation.” True or False?

Answer 6

True; because these are important factors in achieving or successfully changing a behavior.

Question 7

According to an article by Barley & Lawson, what factors influence behavior changes?

Answer 7

health beliefs, past behaviour, intention, social influences, perceived control and the context of the behaviour.

Question 8

How can we increase one’s intention or ability to perform new behaviors?
Or, what are the three significant factors to consider the likelihood of that person performing a behaviour (intention)?

Answer 8

1. Attitude
2. Social norms
3. Behavior control

Question 9

What are the techniques for changing behavior?

Answer 9

Community organizations/development
Social marketing
Education (as a transformational activity)
Transformational education

Question 10

How can we increase the likelihood of behavior adoption, according to the Health Belief Model (HBM)?

Answer 10

By modifying their belief of personal or perceived threat of illness; belief of effectiveness or perceived benefits of recommended health behavior/action and; self efficacy

Question 11

What is the “psychological and behavioral theory” that HBM is derived from?

Answer 11

1. One’s desire to avoid illness or get well.
2. One’s belief that a specific health action will cure or prevent illness.

Question 12

What are the six (6) constructs of the Health Belief Model theory?

Answer 12

Perceived susceptibility
“ severity
“ benefits
“ barriers
self efficacy
Cue to action (internal or symptoms & external i.e. advice from others)

Question 13

What does self efficacy refer to?

Answer 13

One’s belief or confidence in their ability to successfully perform the behavior.

Question 14

True or False, persons are more likely to perform behaviors that are more desired.

Answer 14

True!

Question 15

How can we change behaviours?

Answer 15

Focus on the specific behaviour and specific audience

Question 16

In the Theory of Behaviour Change, what does this example, the person belief about
contaminated drinking water, or their belief about the likelihood of spilled pesticides
leaching into groundwater, refer to?

Answer 16

Attitudes, a person’s belief about a specific behaviour.

Question 17

In the Theory of Behaviour Change, in the following example, a person thoughts about what their neighbor believes about contaminated drinking water, and if they believe that their neighbor would approve or disapprove or even notice if their careless behavior resulted in pesticides leaching into groundwater near a well; what factor is this referring to?

Answer 17

Social norms

Question 18

In the Theory of Behaviour Change, read the following example: the person thinks it’s possible to avoid contaminating groundwater with
pesticides, and they think that they have the skills or resources to keep the pesticides
from contaminating the groundwater near a well; what factor is this referring to?

Answer 18

Control beliefs OR perceived ability to control OR behavioural control.

Question 19

What are the Behaviour Change theories?

Answer 19

1. Integrative model
2. Theory of planned behaviour
3. Theory of reasoned action
4. Cognitive dissonance
5. Value-Belief-Norm theory
6. Diffusion of Innovation
7. Stages of change theory
8. Social cognitive theory

Question 20

Why is the theory of planned behaviour important?

Answer 20

It allows us to understand that our beliefs about: the behaviour (attitudes), what others think or believe about the behaviour (social norms) and whether or not we should or have the skills to perform the behaviour (control beliefs) ultimately affects our intention to perform the behaviour and execute/action.

Question 21

What else should we consider - aside from behavioural intent and skills to perform the behaviour - to determine the likelihood of change?

Answer 21

Whether the person has environmental obstacles or constraints that might support or discourage them from performing the behaviour

Question 22

How does the Social Cognitive Theory describe beliefs about power and control?

Answer 22

The Social Cognitive Theory states that people are not machines that automatically execute functions from an input; they are able to symbolize, self-regulate and self-reflect.

Question 23

What questions should we ask to determine the likelihood of change?

Answer 23

Does the person have an intent to change behaviours?
- attitude, social norms, self efficacy (individual’s confidence in carrying out the behaviour) and control beliefs (easy or difficulty of behaviour)

Do they have the skills and abilities necessary to perform the behaviour

Are there any environmental factors that may prevent them from successfully carrying out the behaviour?