lay health beliefs illness behavior

Question 1

lay health beliefs

Answer 1

beliefs ordinary people have about health and illness (people with no medical training)

Question 2

types of lay health beliefs

Answer 2

1. reserve of health
2. health as equilibrium
3. health in a vacuum
4. health as function

Question 3

reserve of health

Answer 3

having the strength to resist to disease

Question 4

health as equilibrium

Answer 4

balance inside the body and mind (general physical & psychological well-being) and between the individual and social world

Question 5

health in a vacuum

Answer 5

an absence of a condition means being healthy

Question 6

health as function

Answer 6

the ability to do things in everyday life and to achieve personal goals

Question 7

a person who has a condition but feels healthy because they can still do the things they want

Answer 7

health as function

Question 8

a person who feels well-balanced physically and psychologically & that they are not in any conflicts with others (in spite of the presence of a condition)

Answer 8

health as equilibrium

Question 9

a person with no diagnosed conditions understands that they are healthy even when not feeling well

Answer 9

health in a vacuum

Question 10

a person who feels strong enough to resist disease even when having symptoms

Answer 10

reserve as health

Question 11

illness behavior

Answer 11

action a person takes with regards to identifiable symptoms

Question 12

illness related action could take many forms

Answer 12

• do nothing
• visit a GP
• ask friends and relatives
• take medication over the counter
• use alternative medicine

Question 13

what factors can influence illness behavior

Answer 13

• beliefs about health and illness
• knowledge of diseases
• triggers
• presence of lay referral
• encouragement for self-care and self-help
• availability of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

Question 14

beliefs about health and illness

Answer 14

beliefs about health, and the cause of illness may have an impact on seeking help

Question 15

knowledge of diseases

Answer 15

knowledge can help identify potential symptoms

ex — a patient may not pay attention when observes blood in the stool and considers that this is quite common; it might be a sign of polyps or colorectal cancer

Question 16

triggers

Answer 16

triggers refer to pressure from others and the restricting nature of symptoms

Question 17

presence of lay referral

Answer 17

referring to family, neighbors or community

Question 18

availability of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

Answer 18

focuses on individuality, holism and self-treatment

CAM examples: acupuncture, massage, herbal, aromatherapy, yoga etc

Question 19

lay health beliefs about the cause of illness includes several sites

Answer 19

• individual site
• natural site
• social site
• supernatural site

Question 20

individual site

Answer 20

disease is attributed to the individual

ex — food consumption

Question 21

natural site

Answer 21

diseases related to environmental factors

ex — cold, humidity, pollution

Question 22

social site

Answer 22

diseases believed to be inflicted by others due to social conflict or jealousy

ex — evil eye

Question 23

supernatural site

Answer 23

diseases inflicted by supernatural entities

ex — Gods, spirits or ancestors

Question 24

the individual and natural sites are likely to be found in _____ societies, while social and supernatural sites are likely to found in _____

Answer 24

western industrialized societies, developing counties or tribal societies

Question 25

types of triggers

Answer 25

1. inter-personal crisis
2. symptoms’ interference with social and interpersonal relations
3. sanctioning (pressure from others
4. symptoms’ interference with vocational or physical activity
5. temporalization of symptoms

Question 26

example: a patient who cannot go to a party due to illness restrictions

type of trigger?

Answer 26

symptoms’ interference with social and interpersonal relations

Question 27

example: someone who feels very tired all the time and cannot be as productive as before at work

type of trigger?

Answer 27

symptoms’ interference with vocational or physical activity

Question 28

example: people may place deadlines; if symptoms persist beyond their deadlines then they may seek medical help

type of trigger?

Answer 28

temporalization of symptoms

Question 29

example: a spouse who exerts particular pressure on her husband to visit a GP after experiencing chest pain

type of trigger?

Answer 29

sanctioning

Question 30

example: death in a patient’s family

type of trigger?

Answer 30

occurrence inter-personal crisis