Lay Beliefs Flashcards
What are “lay beliefs”?
how people understand and make sense of health/illness.
What is the negative definition of health?
Health equates to the absence of illness.
What is the functional definition of health?
Health is the ability to do certain things.
What is the positive definition of health?
Health is a state of wellbeing and fitness.
What are the two issues addressed in “lay epidemiology”?
how and why illness happens - why it happened to a particular person at a particular time
What is health behaviour?
Activity undertaken for purpose of maintaining health and preventing illness.
What is illness behaviour?
Activity of ill person to define illness and seek solution.
What is sick role behaviour?
Formal response to symptoms, including seeking formal help.
Why might smoking be seen as a more rational behaviour among people of lower socioeconomic classes?
Higher social class more likely to have a positive definition of health, incentives of giving up more clear as they expect to remain healthy. Disadvantaged groups are trying to improve immediate environment, smoking may be normalised/a coping mechanism.
Most symptoms are never seen by a doctor, as many people do nothing or use lay-care. What is this known as?
The symptom/illness iceberg
What is a lay referral?
The act of discussing symptoms with others before deciding to visit a doctor.
Why is it important for us to understand lay referral?
Helps us to understand why people might have delayed in seeking help, why/when they see a doctor, and if they use alternative medicines/other services.
Which four factors may influence someone in whether they seek treatment for rheumatoid arthritis?
Symptom experience, symptom evaluation, knowledge of rheumatoid arthritis and treatments, experience of health professionals
