Theories of behaviour change

Question 1

What is the health belief model

Answer 1

Believe that they are susceptible

Believe there are serious consequences

Believe that taking action will reduce their susceptibility

Believe that that benefits of taking action will outweigh the costs

Question 2

Cues to action are important in the health beliefs model, what are they?

Answer 2

internal - symptoms

external - poster, GP advice

Question 3

Critiques of the health belief model

Answer 3

There are other factors which affect behaviour change:

• self-efficacy - someone’s belief that they can carry out the preventative behaviour
• emotions

Question 4

What is the health belief model useful for?

Answer 4

• Breast examination
• Vaccinations
• Adherence to medication

Question 5

What is the theory of planned behaviour model?

Answer 5

Theorises that that best predictor of behaviour is intention which is determined by:

• individual’s attitude (smoking is bad)
• perceived social pressure from the subjective norm (family want me to stop)
• individual’s perceived ability to stop (I believe that I can stop)

Question 6

Critiques of the theory of planned behaviour

Answer 6

• assumes that all choices are rational - doesn’t consider influence of irrational (fear, etc.)
• assumes that all 3 factors are measurable and not linked
• Useful in predicting intentions, but not for actual behaviours - need to use other techniques to bridge the gap between intentions and behaviours

Question 7

What is the transtheoretical model

Answer 7

Examines the process of change, not the factors influencing it

Question 8

What are the 6 stages of the transtheoretical model?

Answer 8

Pre-contemplation
Contemplation
Preparation
Action
Maintenance
Relapse - can occur throughout.

Question 9

What are the benefits of the transtheoretical model?

Answer 9

This model allows for patients to start at any part, and exit and any part and accounts for relapse

Question 10

What are the critiques of the transtheoretical model?

Answer 10

• arbitrary time frame allocated to each section - varies for every person and action
• some people move through the stages differently, maybe skip a stage or go backwards
• change could operate on a continual basis, rather than a discrete one