Changing health behaviour

Question 1

For this lecture - look at the learning objectives and any key terms are underlined/bold

Question 2

How can health behaviours be categorised?

Answer 2

Health damaging/ impairing
Health promoting

AND

modifiable risk factors
non-modifiable risk factors

Question 3

What are health promoting behaviours?

Answer 3

taking exercise, healthy eating, attending health checks, medication compliance, vaccinations

Question 4

What are health impairing behaviours?

Answer 4

smoking, alcohol and substance abuse, risky sexual behaviour, sun exposure, driving without a seatbelt

Question 5

What are modifiable risk factors?

Answer 5

things we can potentially change e.g. diet, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, stress, sleep

Question 6

What are non-modifiable risk factors?

Answer 6

things we are unable to change e.g. sex, age, genetics

Question 7

Leading causes of death in England?

Answer 7

alzeimers
dementia
angina

Question 8

Where are preventative services delivered in the NHS?

Answer 8

There is primary, secondary, tertiary prevention

screening programmes, child health protection
immunistation programmes from infancy to adulthood

Question 9

What were the most important factors in preventing medical student burnout?

Answer 9

Physical activity
Sleep

Question 10

What is intervention on a population level?

Answer 10

health promotion
enabling people to exert control over the EKEPHANT

Question 11

What is intervention on a personal level?

Question 12

What impact does intervention have?

Answer 12

individual level- affect individual behaviour
local community - sales of alcohol, related-crimes, a&e events
population level - national alcohol sales and consumption, national statistics on alcohol related crimes and a&e admissions

Question 13

What is the theory of unrealistic optimism due to?

Answer 13

Inaccurate perceptions of risk
Inaccurate perception of susceptibility

Question 14

What are perceptions of risk influenced by?

Answer 14

lack of personal experience with problem
belief that preventable by personal actions they do
Belief that if not happened by now, its not likely to
Belief that problem is infrequent - statistically unlikely

Question 15

What are some models and theories of behaviour change?

Answer 15

Health belief model
Theory of planned behaviour
Stages of change (transtheoretical) model

Question 16

What is the health belief model? (HBM)

Answer 16

Individuals will change if they believe…
- they’re susceptible
- it has serious consequences
- taking action reduces susceptibility
- benefits of taking action outweigh the costs

Question 17

How does the HBM apply to breast cancer screening?

Answer 17

Predicts they will attend if…
- perceive themselves as high risk or susceptible
- believe it is a serious threat to their health
- benefits of screening are high, costs are low

Question 18

What is the theory of planned behaviour?

Answer 18

Says best predictor of behaviour change is INTENTION

Question 19

What does the theory of planned behaviour say intention is determined by?

Answer 19

• a persons attitude to a behaviour
• subjective norm - what do the people around you think of your behaviour
• perceived behavioural control - belief that they can/can’t change their behaviour

Question 20

What is the theory of planned behaviour?

Answer 20

Attitudes, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control all affect intentions

Intentions affect behaviour

Question 21

Smoking cessation - how does it link to theory of planned behaviour?

Answer 21

attitude - think its not a good thing
subjective norm - people important to them want them to give up
percieved behavioural control - i have the ability to stop smoking
SO behaviour changes

Question 22

What is the stage models of health behaviour?

Answer 22

See individuals as people who come from different places and situations in life (discrete ordered stages not a continuum)
Each stage has a greater inclination to change behaviour
A transtheoretical model or stages of change model
5 stages of change - people can enter at any stage and move across any at any point

Question 23

What are the 5 stages of a transtheoretical model or stages of change model?

Answer 23

Not ready yet - precontemplation
thinking about it - contemplation
Getting ready - preparation
Action - doing it
Maintenance - sticking with it - people may relapse

Question 24

Examples of the 5 stages of a transtheoretical model or stages of change model?

Answer 24

Precontemplation - no intention to give up smoking
contemplation - beginning to consider giving up
preparation - getting ready to quit in near future
action - engaged in giving up smoking
maintenance - steady non-smoker