Lay Health Beliefs Flashcards
What is the definition of Lay Health Beliefs?
Refers to beliefs ordinary people have about health and illness - people with no medical training
What are the 3 lay health beliefs?
- Reserve of Health
- Health as an equilibrium
- Health as a vacuum
- Health as a function
What is Reserve of Health?
Having the strength to resist to disease
What is Health as equilibrium?
A balance inside the body and mind and between the individual and social world
What is health as a function?
The ability to things in everyday life and the ability to achieve personal goals
What are few lay beliefs about the causes of illness?
Nature
Genetics and inheritance
Human action
Spirits and gods
Sinful Behaviour
Social relations
What are a few illness related actions?
Do nothing
Visit a GP
Ask friends and relatives
Take medication over the counter
Use alternative medicine
Why is knowledge of diseases important?
Knowledge can help identify potential symptoms.
Some patients know more than others.
Health literacy.
What are the 2 referral systems do lay people use?
Family members
Community
Factors that influence illness behaviour?
Beliefs about health and illness
Knowledge of diseases
Triggers
Presence of lay referral
Encouragement for self-care and self-help
CAM
What are the 4 sites of lay beliefs about the causes of illness?
Individual site
Social site
Natural site
Supernatural site
What are 5 reasons for breakdown of accommodation?
- Interpersonal crisis
- Perceived interference with work activities
- Perceived interference with social/leisure activities
- Sanctioning by others
- Symptoms persist beyond arbitrary time limit set by individual
