FNH 473 Video 1: Introduction to Health Behaviour Theories

Summary

This video explores the significance of health behavior theories in Public Health Nutrition. It introduces the Health Belief Model, which helps explain and predict health behaviors based on perceptions of susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers. The video highlights how these models can guide health promotion programs by addressing modifying factors, cues to action, and self-efficacy. Examples, including interventions targeting healthy eating and toothbrushing, illustrate how these theories are applied in real-world scenarios. The video underscores the importance of understanding and applying health behavior theories to design effective, evidence-based interventions for promoting public health.

Takeaways

• 😀 Health behavior theories, although seemingly dry, are powerful tools for understanding and influencing health-related behaviors.
• 😀 A theory is a systematic way to explain and predict phenomena by synthesizing evidence into principles, much like theories in science (e.g., Big Bang, Evolution).
• 😀 Understanding human behavior is key in promoting health and preventing diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
• 😀 The Health Belief Model is an early and influential theory that helps explain health behavior by focusing on four constructs: perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers.
• 😀 Perceived susceptibility is about how likely someone thinks they are to develop a health condition, while perceived severity refers to how serious they think the condition would be.
• 😀 Perceived benefits refer to how effective an advised action is thought to be, and perceived barriers are the obstacles preventing someone from taking action (e.g., cost, time, personal preferences).
• 😀 The likelihood of behavior change increases when perceived threat (from susceptibility and severity) is high, making individuals more motivated to take protective actions.
• 😀 Health behavior interventions should aim to increase perceived threat (through education) and clearly communicate the benefits of the desired action while minimizing barriers.
• 😀 Cues to action (external triggers, such as media campaigns or health reminders) and self-efficacy (confidence in one’s ability to perform a task) are also key components of the Health Belief Model.
• 😀 Real-world applications of the Health Belief Model, like the gestational diabetes study and the toothbrushing intervention in New Zealand, show how changing perceptions and boosting self-efficacy can drive healthier behaviors.

Q & A

What is the primary goal of learning health behavior theories in this course?

The primary goal is to provide students with a set of tools to effectively promote health by understanding and applying health behavior theories for better program planning.

Why are health behavior theories important in public health nutrition?

Health behavior theories are crucial because they help explain and predict human behaviors, particularly in relation to health, enabling more effective design and implementation of health promotion programs.

What is a theory, and how does it relate to health behavior?

A theory is a systematic way of understanding phenomena by synthesizing evidence into key principles. In health behavior, theories help explain and predict behaviors that influence health outcomes, such as diet and physical activity.

What are the four key constructs of the Health Belief Model?

The four key constructs of the Health Belief Model are perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers.

How do perceived susceptibility and perceived severity contribute to behavior change in the Health Belief Model?

Perceived susceptibility refers to one's belief about the likelihood of developing a health condition, while perceived severity refers to one's belief about how serious that condition would be. Together, they create the perception of threat, which influences the likelihood of engaging in health-protective behavior.

What role do perceived benefits and perceived barriers play in health behavior?

Perceived benefits refer to the belief that an action will be effective in reducing health risk, while perceived barriers refer to the obstacles that may prevent taking the recommended action. A person evaluates the pros and cons, which influences their decision to engage in health-promoting behaviors.

What are cues to action and self-efficacy in the Health Belief Model?

Cues to action are triggers that increase readiness to take health-promoting actions, such as media campaigns or personal experiences. Self-efficacy is the belief in one's ability to perform and maintain a behavior successfully, which is critical in initiating and sustaining behavior change.

How has self-efficacy been incorporated into health behavior theories?

Self-efficacy, introduced by Albert Bandura, has been integrated into many health behavior theories because of its proven importance in influencing whether individuals will take and sustain action, such as engaging in healthy eating or exercise.

Can you provide an example of how the Health Belief Model was used in a study?

In a study of American women with gestational diabetes, researchers found that perceptions of susceptibility and severity of type 2 diabetes were not strong predictors of health behavior. However, self-efficacy for healthy eating and education were significant predictors of adopting healthier eating habits.

What was the impact of the 'Keep on Brushing' project on tooth brushing behavior?

The 'Keep on Brushing' project, which sent motivational text messages based on the Health Belief Model, increased the frequency of tooth brushing among young adults in New Zealand. The proportion of participants brushing twice daily rose from 51% to 73% after 10 weeks.