Health Beliefs Flashcards
Explain the common sense model of how patients respond to symptoms.
Patient develops illness Disease causes symptoms Patient consults doctor Doctor takes history/investigations Doctor makes diagnosis Patient follows doctor’s advice
Why is the common sense model wrong?
90% of people declare themselves to have experienced medical symptoms in the last 2 weeks.
What affects symptom/sensation perception?
Situational, cultural and psychological factors
What three main factors influence experience of symptom perception?
The intensity or severity of the symptom.
The familiarity of the symptom
The duration and frequency of the symptom.
What are Mechanic’s 10 variables known to influence illness behaviour?
- Visibility and recognisability of symptoms.
- Perceived seriousness of symptoms for present and future.
- The extent to which symptoms disrupt family, work, social activities.
- The frequency of symptoms, their persistence or recurrence.
- The tolerance threshold of the person exposed to symptoms.
- Available information, knowledge and cultural assumptions and understanding
- Denial of symptoms.
- Need that compete with illness responses.
- Competing possible interpretations assigned to symptoms once recognised. (Normalisation)
- Availability of treatment resources; proximity, access, cost, etc.
What are Zola’s triggers to consultation?
- The occurrence of an interpersonal crisis.
- Perceived interference with social or personal relations.
- Perceived interference with vocational or physical activity.
- “Temporalising” – setting a personal deadline.
- “Sanctioning” – pressure/permission from other people to consult.
Outline Leventhal’s Self-regulatory Model of Illness Behaviour.
Stage 1 – interpretation (symptom perception, social messages)
via
Representation of health threat (identity, cause, consequences, timeline, cure/control)
via
Emotional response to health threat (fear, anxiety, depression)
–>
Stage 2 – coping (approach coping, avoidance coping)
–>
Stage 3 – appraisal (was my coping strategy effective?)
Leventhal’s Self-regulatory Model of Illness Behaviour - focus on representation of health threat. (5)
Identity Cause Consequences Timeline Cure/control
What is meant by identity?
Symptom experience
What is meant by timeline?
What are the three timelines?
How Long the Illness will Last
Acute
Chronic
Cyclical
What is meant by consequences?
Perceptions of physical, social, emotional consequences
What is meant by control/curability?
Increased sense of personal control associated with improved self-management. Belief illness controlled by medication associated with greater adherence.
What influences beliefs?
Medical Establishment
Family/Friends
Culture
Social world - celebrities/internet/media
Give some examples of health behaviours. (6)
Alcohol intake Use of car seatbelts Hygiene Not taking medication Immunisation Unsafe sex
Why study models of health behaviour?
An understanding of the psychological factors
underlying health behaviour can help us change patient behaviour and develop health promotion programmes.
