Health beliefs & behaviours Flashcards
Why is it important for pharmacists to understand health beliefs?
- So they can provide appropriate interventions e.g smoking cessation, COVID-19 Vaccination
- Understanding theory-based interventions will
help you as pharmacists to help people change their behaviour - Updating healthy behaviour, making sure patients attend appointments & referrals are made.
What is health?
According to WHO
- World Health Organisation (WHO)
‘A state of physical, mental and social well-being
and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
- infirmity = a state of being old or weak in health ( especially form old age)
what is Disease?
- A pathologic entity characterised usually by at
least two of these criteria: a recognised aetiologic
agent(s), an identifiable group of signs and
symptoms, or consistent anatomical alterations - SYNONYMS = Illness; sickness; an interruption, cessation, or disorder of body functions, systems or organs
What is illness?
- Simplest definition is ‘disease’ but fails to fully take on the social concept of health
- The subjective experience of poor health manifesting
as physical or psychological symptoms but can have
complex causes including combinations of cognitive
and social processes and may or might not reflect an
underlying disease
What determines health? ( determinants)
MODIFIABLE FACTORS:
- Individual lifestyle factors i.e smoking
- Social & community issues
-Living & working conditions
- General socio-economic, cultural & environmental conditions
NON-MODIFIABLE FACTORS:
- Age
- sex
- Hereditary factors
What is the Perception of health or illness
influenced by?
- Disease
- Disability
- Frequency of illness
- Fitness ( ones fitness)
what is belief?
- Something one accepts as true or real; a firmly held
opinion
What do Sociologists (groups) theories look at?
-Beliefs
- Feelings
- Values
- Experiences
- Meanings
What is Sociologists theories
- how we in a society , how we deal w/ social norms & beliefs
- Social values & norms
What are Psychologists (individual) theories?
- Cognition
- Affect
- Volition = will
- What you actively decide
what behaviours are related to health issues?
- A health behaviour = aimed to prevent disease (e.g. eating healthy diet) = PRIMARY PREVENTION
-An illness behaviour = aimed to seek treatment
(e.g. going to see the Doctor) SIGNS & SYMPTOMS , 2NDARY BEHAVIOUR - A sick role behaviour= aimed at getting well
(adhering to prescribed treatment) HAVE THE DISEASE & AIM AT GETTING WELL
How can health behaviours be described?
- Behavioural pathogens’ = health impairing
habits e.g. smoking, excess alcohol - ‘Behavioural immunogens’ = health protective
e.g. exercise, healthy eating
what is primary behaviour?
- Acting on a behaviour to prevent disease
what is 2ndary behaviour?
- Have signs & symptoms of the disease so you take meds to reduce chance of disease progressing or from getting it
Where do patients go for health advice?
- POPULAR = Self care, self-medication Self help groups (independent of HCPs)
- FOLK = Complementary
therapists - PROFESSIONAL = Professional healthcare I.e GPs & surgeries