Health Psychology Flashcards
Biopsychosocial
factors: health/illness/well-being
Biological, psychological & social factors
can interact to influence health e.g.,
impact on health of drinking alcohol,
sugar intake, etc, is moderated by an
individual’s genetic make-up
Impact of Physiological Processes on Well-being
Physiological Influence on Health:
Health behaviors (e.g., exercise) affect mood, anxiety, and perceived stress.
Illness can also impact mood, anxiety, and stress levels.
Emotional Responses to Illness:
Responses can affect overall well-being and quality of life.
Emotional states influence health behaviors and treatment outcomes.
What is health
psychology
The study of psycho-social processes in health, illness, healthcare and health promotion
Overview of Health Psychology
Key Concepts:
Adherence: Commitment to treatment plans.
Stress: Impact on health and coping mechanisms.
Emotions & Health: Emotional responses influencing health outcomes.
Placebo Effect: Psychological impact of belief on treatment effectiveness.
Pain Management: Strategies for relieving and coping with pain.
Clinician-Patient Communication: Importance of effective communication in care.
Psychology of Genetic Testing: Emotional and psychological implications.
Coping with Death/Dying: Approaches to end-of-life care.
Psychosocial Influences: Social and psychological factors affecting health.
Health-Promoting Behaviors: Regular exercise, healthy eating, and preventive care.
Health-Risk Behaviors: Binge drinking, smoking, and other risky actions.
Illness Behaviors: How symptoms are perceived and managed.
Health Belief Model (HBM) – Key Components?
Perceived Susceptibility – Likelihood of being affected
Perceived Severity – Seriousness of the threat
Perceived Benefits & Barriers – Pros vs. Cons of action
Cues to Action – Triggers to take action
Self-Efficacy – Confidence in ability to act
Perceived susceptibility and severity contribute to perceived threat which affects health behaviour
Critique of the Health Belief Model (HBM)
Static Nature:
Beliefs are viewed as simultaneous rather than dynamic.
Rational Decision-Making:
Assumes humans make purely rational choices.
Oversimplification of Threat:
May not fully capture the complexity of perceived threats.
Fear Arousal in Campaigns:
High fear levels can lead to denial and counterproductive outcomes.
Social Influences:
Limited consideration of social factors affecting behavior.
Emotional Factors:
Fails to account for the role of emotions in decision-making.
Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) – Key Components & Example?
Attitude Toward the Behavior – “I only drink on weekends, but it’s Dry July…”
Subjective Norm – “Friends drink, but work is fundraising for Dry July…”
Perceived Behavioral Control – “It’s only for a month, maybe I can do it…”
These shape Intention – “I’ll try cutting down first…” leading to Behavior – “I have one light beer.”
Critique of the TPB
Doesn’t account for emotions
* Does intention always lead to behaviour?
Adherence
Definition: Commitment to following treatment plans and medical recommendations.
Key Point: High adherence leads to better health outcomes.
Stress
Definition: The body’s response to challenges or demands.
Key Point: Chronic stress can negatively impact health and coping mechanisms.
Emotions & Health
Definition: How emotional responses affect physical health.
Key Point: Negative emotions can weaken the immune system, while positive emotions can promote healing.
Placebo Effect
Definition: The improvement in health following a treatment that has no therapeutic effect.
Key Point: Belief in the treatment’s effectiveness can lead to real changes in health.
Pain Management
Definition: Techniques and strategies to alleviate or cope with pain.
Key Point: Includes medication, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and physical therapy.
Clinician-Patient Communication
Definition: The exchange of information between a healthcare provider and patient.
Key Point: Effective communication is crucial for proper diagnosis, treatment adherence, and patient satisfaction.
Psychology of Genetic Testing
Definition: Emotional and psychological reactions to genetic test results.
Key Point: Results can cause anxiety, stress, or relief, affecting mental health and decision-making.
Coping with Death/Dying
Definition: Psychological and emotional approaches to end-of-life situations.
Key Point: Includes grief management, acceptance, and support for patients and families.
Psychosocial Influences
Definition: The impact of social and psychological factors on health.
Key Point: Social support, mental health, and personal relationships play a critical role in overall well-being.
Health-Promoting Behaviors
Definition: Actions that improve health, such as regular exercise, balanced diet, and preventive care.
Key Point: These behaviors are key to long-term wellness and disease prevention.
Health-Risk Behaviors
Definition: Actions that negatively affect health, like smoking, binge drinking, or drug use.
Key Point: Engaging in these behaviors increases the risk of disease and early death.
Illness Behaviors
Definition: How people recognize, interpret, and respond to symptoms.
Key Point: Perception of symptoms can influence whether individuals seek medical care or self-manage their condition.
Type of Non-Adherence: Intentional Non-Adherence
Definition: Active decision by the patient to deviate from the prescribed treatment plan.
Key Reasons:
Cost of medication or treatment.
Experiencing side effects.
Personal beliefs about the treatment or condition.
Type of Non-Adherence: Creative Non-Adherence
Definition: Patient modifies or supplements the prescribed treatment on their own.
Examples:
Dosing changes (pill splitting).
Using over-the-counter (OTC) medications or natural remedies alongside prescribed ones.
Risk of medication interactions or accidental overdosing.
Saving medications for later use.
Sharing medications with others.
Unintentional non-adherence
passive process in which
the patient might be careless or forget about adhering
to the treatment plan.
* Health literacy
* Complexity of treatment regime
* Patient comorbidities
Assessing Non-Adherence
Subjective Measures:
Self-report: Patients provide information about their adherence.
Objective Measures:
Counting pills: Tracks remaining medication.
Pharmacy refill records: Monitors prescription refills.
Electronic medication event monitoring systems (MEMS): Records when medication bottles are opened.
Biochemical measurements: Measures drug levels in the body.
Key Point:
There is no ‘gold standard’ for assessing non-adherence.
IMPORTANCE IN HEALTHCARE
Improves health outcomes and quality of life
* Adherence is linked to clinical outcomes → non-
adherence increases patient mortality
i.e. antiplatelet agents following heart attack / stroke
* Patients who adhere to treatment plans often
experience fewer symptoms and improved quality
of life
i.e. anti-convulsant agents in epilepsy
Importance in Healthcare: Non-Efficacy vs. Non-Adherence
Key Question: Is the treatment ineffective, or is the patient not taking the medication as prescribed?
Personal and Societal Costs:
PHARMAC funding: Strain on healthcare funding.
Cost of GP visits and specialist referrals: Extra consultations due to mismanaged care.
ED visits and hospital stays: Increased use of emergency services.
Unnecessary diagnostic testing: Costly and avoidable if adherence were ensured.
Critical Statistic:
50% of patients do not take medications as prescribed, leading to worsened health outcomes and higher healthcare costs.
BARRIERS TO ADHERENCE
- Social and Economic Factors
- Health System Factors
- Condition-related Factors
- Therapy-related Factors
- Patient-related Factors
SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS
Economic barriers
* Direct costs i.e. medication
* Indirect costs i.e. GP visits, transportation, time off work
Social support
* Lack of family support or social support network
* Language barrier
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FACTORS
Accessibility
* Cost of primary care
* Long wait times, short consultations
* Lack of appointment availability
Provider-Patient Relationship
* Provider communication skills
* Provider burnout
CONDITION RELATED FACTORS
Symptoms
* Adherence ∝ symptom severity AND degree of
symptomatic relief (negative reinforcement)
Nature of the disease
* Chronic conditions which lack physical symptoms
negatively impacts adherence
i.e. hypertension, diabetes
Comorbidities
i.e. anxiety, depression
THERAPY RELATED FACTORS
Complexity of treatment schedule
* Number of daily doses; number of concurrent
medications
* Treatment requires mastery of certain techniques
* Treatment which interferes with lifestyle or requires
significant behavioural change
Side effects
* Experiencing unwanted side effects
can lower adherence
PATIENT RELATED FACTORS
Physical factors
- Visual/hearing/cognitive
impairment
- Impaired mobility or
dexterity
Psychological factors
- Health literacy
- Perceived risk vs. perceived
benefit of treatment
- Fear of side effects
- Psychosocial stressors, or
alcohol / substance use
Provider burnout
Definition: Physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion in healthcare professionals due to prolonged stress.
Causes:
Long working hours
Emotional strain from illness/suffering
High responsibility for patient care
Lack of resources (staff, tools)
Impact:
Reduced job satisfaction
Impaired care quality
Increased errors
Potential exit from the profession
Symptoms: Fatigue, detachment, loss of motivation, feelings of inefficacy.
CHRONIC ILLNESS/HEALTH CONDITIONS
Diabetes
Cardiovascular
diseases (CVD)
Respiratory
diseases
Stroke
Gout
Chronic Pain
Blood pressure
Quality of Life: Psychological
Definition: The emotional, mental, and social aspects of well-being.
Key Components:
Emotions: Anxiety, depression, denial
Perceptions & Beliefs: Personal outlook and attitudes toward life and illness
Social Roles: Ability to fulfill roles like parenting or socializing
Quality of Life: Physical
Definition: The physical health and functioning aspect of well-being.
Key Components:
Illness/Disease Symptoms: Pain, nausea, fatigue
Physical Functioning: Ability to walk or perform daily activities
Physical Roles: Type of work or physical tasks one can perform
