Health Behaviour Change Flashcards
What are some changes in causes of death that have happened since 1900
Increase in lifestyle-related diseases e.g. circulatory
What proportion of persistent cigarette smokers are killed by smoking
Half
A quarter while still in middle age
What is the no. 1 cause of preventable illness and death
Smoking
What is the current prevalence of smokers in the UK
19%
What proportion of men and women are overweight or obese
7/10 men (66.4%)
6/10 women (57.5%)
What are the 5 modern day killers
Dietary excess Alcohol consumption Lack of exercise Smoking Unsafe sexual behaviour
What are the levels of behaviour change interventions
Population
Community
Individual
Describe the tole of education in health behaviour change
Information does have an important role and is most effective for discrete behaviours
Messages tailored to a particular audience are more effective
But people need more than knowledge to change habitual lifestyle behaviours
What are the cues for unhealthy eating
Visual (eg. fast food signs, sweets at checkout)
Auditory (eg. ice cream bell)
Olfactory (eg. smell of baking bread)
Location (eg. the couch or car)
Time (eg. evening)/ Events (eg. end of TV programme)
Emotional (eg. bored, stressed, sad, happy)
How does positive reinforcement play into unhealthy eating
Dopamine (feel good), filling an empty void/boredom.
Praise for preparing a high-fat meal for the family
How does negative reinforcement play into unhealthy eating
Avoid painful emotions by comfort eating
How does punishment play into unhealthy eating
Preparing a low fat meal is criticised
Describe the effect of limited/delayed positive reinforcement for healthy eating
Efforts at dietary change/weight loss go unnoticed by others; Avoiding future health problems is too remote
Describe the stimulus control techniques of behaviour modification
Keep ‘danger’ foods out of the house
Avoid keeping biscuits in the same cupboard as tea & coffee
Eat only at the dining table
Use small plates
Do not watch TV at the same time as eating
What is counter conditioning in behaviour modification
Identify ‘high-risk’ situations/cues (e.g. stress) and ‘healthier’ responses:
E.g. Can you think of something other than eating that makes you feel better? Maybe something relaxing or exercise?
Give examples of contingency management
Involve significant others to praise healthy eating choices
Plan specific rewards for successful weight loss
Vouchers for adherence to healthy eating & weight loss.
What are some naturally occurring reinforcers of behaviour modification
Improved self-esteem (positive reinforcement).
Reduction in symptoms of breathlessness (negative reinforcement).
What are the limitations of reinforcement programmes
Lack of generalization (only affects behaviour regarding the specific trait that is being rewarded)
Poor maintenance (rapid extinction of the desired behaviour once the reinforcer disappears)
Impractical and expensive
What is the expectancy-value principle
The potential for a behaviour to occur in any specific situation is a function of the expectancy that the behaviour will lead to a particular outcome and the value of that outcome
What is susceptibility
“A lot of people I know have got flu symptoms”
What is seriousness
“It’s not something to really worry about”
What thoughts may plays into the decision to get a flu vaccine
Susceptibility Seriousness Benefits Costs/barriers Cues
What is outcome efficacy
Individuals expectation that the behaviour will lead to a particular outcome
What is elf efficacy
Belief that one can execute the behaviour required to produce the outcome
