Health Promotion and Models

Question 1

Health Change Objectives

Answer 1

Promote, maintain and improve community and individual health, reduce prevalence of disease and prevent the onset of health problems.

Question 2

Assumptions of Health Change

Answer 2

Health status can be changed, theories can be understood and used to promote change and individuals must be motivated to change.

Question 3

Levels of Prevention

Answer 3

Primary - preventative measures that forestall the onset of disease while people are still healthy
Secondary - measures that lead to early detection and treatment to limit disability or impairment
Tertiary - measures aimed at rehabilitation following serious disease or injury

Question 4

Adherence

Answer 4

Degree of success and persistence in performing a treatment recommendation. Non-adherence results from ignoring, forgetting or misunderstanding instructions.

Question 5

Cognitive Dissonance

Answer 5

A state of psychological tension resulting from having opposing cognitions. People are motivated to relieve this tension (removing or changing one of the cognitions).

Question 6

Fear Appeals

Answer 6

Common in mass media and focus on the negative consequences of a particular behaviour. Effective at raising awareness in the short term, but over time it can increase anxiety and lead to denial or avoidance. Must have instructions for reducing negative consequences.

Question 7

Persuasion

Answer 7

Source - credible, well liked, enthusiastic, not personally gaining from endorsement, honest
Message - meaningful, linked to education level, includes recommendations for change, considers primacy and recency effects
Recipient - education level and SES will influence how the message is received

Question 8

Health Belief Model

Answer 8

Perceived susceptibility and severity of an illness leads to perceived threat, which predicts the likelihood of an individual taking action. A perceived cost-perceived benefit analysis also influences likelihood.

Question 9

Critiques of HBM

Answer 9

Can predict compliance to some treatments (eg vaccinations). However, it is a highly rational approach that ignores social and emotional factors that can influence behaviour. Also, it is hard to maintain long term.

Question 10

Protection Motivation Theory

Answer 10

Source factors (environmental and intrapersonal), threat appraisal and coping appraisal combine to form protection motivation, which leads to adaptive or maladaptive coping.
Threat appraisal - severity and susceptibility
Coping appraisal - response efficacy and self efficacy

Question 11

Critiques of PMT

Answer 11

Coping appraisal and severity of disease are predictive of behaviour change. However, there is no consideration of social and emotional factors.

Question 12

Social Cognition Theory

Answer 12

Situation expectancy - behaviour is likely to harm health
Outcome expectancy - changing behaviour can reduce this harm
Self-efficacy expectancy - individual can carry out the new behaviour

Question 13

Critiques of SCT

Answer 13

Considers the individuals beliefs in their ability to manage health problems. However, no consideration of social and emotional influences.

Question 14

Theory of Planned Behaviour

Answer 14

Intention is predicted by attitudes, subjective norms and perceived control. Intention then leads to behaviour change.

Question 15

Critiques of TPB

Answer 15

Considers the influence of significant others on health behaviours and allows for individual evaluations (irrationality). However, doesn’t accommodate planning or emotions or specify whether beliefs form attitudes or vice versa.

Question 16

Health Action Process Approach

Answer 16

Outcome expectancy, risk perception and self-efficacy combine to form goals which lead to plans and then behaviour change. The individual then follows a cycle of initiative, maintenance and recovery. Barriers and resources to change also influence whether the person will remain in the cycle or disengage.

Question 17

Critiques of HAPA

Answer 17

Considers social support, planning, goals and self-efficacy. However, neglects emotional influences.

Question 18

Self-Regulation Theory

Answer 18

Self-monitoring - monitor behaviour, record actions and feelings
Self-evaluation - compare actual behaviour to predicted/desired behaviour
Self-reinforcement - matches of actual and desired behaviour are rewarded

Question 19

Critiques of SRT

Answer 19

Promotes shift from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation and encourages individuals to regulate their own behaviour. However, doesn’t provide explanation for how individuals know what to change or how to do so.