Introduction to behaviour changes

Question 1

Health related behaviours

Answer 1

Smoking
Exercise
Diet
Weight control
Drugs/alcohol
Contraceptives
Sunscreen 
Dental health

Question 2

Why is behaviour change important?

Answer 2

Reducing obesity, smoking, inactivity and improving diets could prevent type 2 diabetes, circulatory diseases and cancer

Question 3

When is behaviour change important?

Answer 3

Primary prevention - health behaviour
Secondary prevention - illness behaviour
Treatment and recovery - sick-role behaviour
Ongoing management - self-care behaviour

Question 4

Asthma related behaviours

Answer 4

• Smoking
• Using inhalers correctly
• Self-monitoring
• Avoiding/managing triggers
• Seeking and presenting at health services when needed, attending appointments
• Self-care
• Weight and diet control

Question 5

Which factors influence behaviour?

Answer 5

• Social: culture, class, education, employment
• Psychological: past and current behaviours, personality, emotions, cognitions
• Biological: genetics, age, pre-existing illness
• Environmental: availability, access, cost, weather

Question 6

Social cognitive factors

Answer 6

• Social = relationship with others (support, pressure, self identity)
• Cognitive = internal thought processes
• Acquired through socialisation, learning
• Assumed to mediate effects of other factors
• May be more open to change

Question 7

Researching psychological factors

Answer 7

• Observation: identifying influencing factors during quantitative and qualitative methods
• Model: describes how factors combine and interact
• Theory: organise known facts as basis for further research
• Predictions: specific questions/hypotheses to test
• testing: development of measures, approaches for testing
• Revision: on basis of new findings, applications
• Intervention: change on basis of model, theory

Question 8

Motivation

Answer 8

• Health locus of control - internal and external locus of control
• Health belief model - threat, pros and cons
• Protection-motivation theory - threat appraisal, coping appraisal
• Theory of planned behaviour - intention and attitudes

Question 9

Self efficacy

Answer 9

• From social cognitive theory
• Motivation and action based on outcome expectancy beliefs (beliefs about consequences)
• Perceived self efficacy (confidence, belief in ability to perform action/behaviour in situation to achieve outcome)
• SE predicts intention and behaviour across wide range of behaviours
• Important in motivation, action and maintenance

Question 10

Stage models

Answer 10

• Add temporal component
• Precontemplation - not thought about doing
• Contemplation - thought about doing but no plans
• Preparation - thought about doing, planning
• Action - currently doing or recently started
• Maintenance - doing for more than 6 months
• Termination, relapse