Health psychology and behaviour change

Question 1

Define health psychology

Answer 1

The role of psychological factors which affect cause, progression and consequences of disease

Question 2

Define health behaviour

Answer 2

Aimed at preventing disease

Question 3

Example of health behaviour

Answer 3

Eating health foods

Question 4

Define illness behaviour

Answer 4

Seeking remedy

Question 5

Example of illness behaviour

Answer 5

Going to the doctors

Question 6

Define sick role behaviour

Answer 6

Getting well

Question 7

Example of sick role behaviour

Answer 7

Rest, exercise, medication

Question 8

Example of health promotion

Answer 8

Exercise

Question 9

Example of health impairment

Answer 9

Smoking, risky behaviour, drinking alcohol

Question 10

What does a systematic review produce?

Answer 10

Pool conclusions together from many different studies.

Question 11

What does a meta analysis review produce?

Answer 11

Pool statistical findings together from many different studies.

Question 12

What is a cohort study?

Answer 12

Folow a group of people (free from disease at start) over a defined period, measuring a defined outcome, e.g. effect of sleep on cardiovascular health over 15 years.

Question 13

What is a regression analysis?

Answer 13

Enables statistical analysis of multiple contributing factors on a single outcome.

Question 14

Health intervention example at a population level

Answer 14

5 a day

Stoptober

Question 15

Health intervention example at an individual level

Answer 15

vaccinations

screening

Question 16

Health intervention example at a local level

Answer 16

MUP alcohol

Local campaigns

Question 17

Why do patients engage in health damaging behaviours?

Answer 17

1. Self-serving bias
   justifying engaging in health damaging behaviours, despite castrating others/patients for doing so.
2. Unrealistic optimism
   inaccurate perceptions of risk. e.g. high risk when believe they are low risk

inaccurate perceptions of susceptibility

3. Situational reality
   Seems like a good idea at the time
4. Cultural variability
   Socioeconomic factors
5. Stress
6. Age

Question 18

4 factors affecting the perception of risk

Answer 18

1. Lack of personal experience
2. Belief that preventable by personal action (“I’ll stop in a year’s time”)
3. Belief that if not happened now, it never will
4. Belief that the problem is infrequent

Question 19

What is the NICE guidance on behaviour change?

Answer 19

• Work with your patient’s priorities
• Aim for easy changes over time
• Set and record goals
• Plan explicit coping strategies
• Review progress regularly (this really matters)
• Remember the public health impact of lots of you making small differences to individuals

Question 20

Why is behaviour change important?

Answer 20

• Changing behaviour can have the biggest impact on mortality and morbidity
• Simple solution to reducing disease
• Genetic predisposition => difficult to change
• Socio-economic circumstances => difficult to change
• Interventions => expensive
• People’s behaviour (collectively) may be easier to change