Learning & Models of Behavior Change

Diane B. Wilson EdD, RD Mary S. McLellan MS,RD Medical University of South Carolina

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Developed as part of an Enhanced AHEC Community Partnership for Health Professions Workforce and Educational Reform project funded by the Health Resource and Service Administration (HRSA)
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OBJECTIVES
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Behavior change theory, role in changing health habits

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Major Variables in Behavior Change

Knowledge q Skills q Beliefs q Attitudes q Values
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Health Belief Model

INDIVIDUAL PERCEPTIONS MODIFYING FACTORS
Demographic Variables Socio-psychological Variables

LIKELIHOOD OF ACTION

Perceived susceptibility Perceived severity Perceived benefits of preventive action Perceived barriers to prevent action

Perceived threat

Likelihood of taking recommended preventive health action

Cues to Action Information Reminders Persuasive communications Experience

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Categories of Belief
Perceived Seriousness q Perceived Susceptibility q Perceived Benefits q Perceived Barriers
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Categories of Belief
Seriousness
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Susceptibility
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Relative severity of the health problem.

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E.g. Seriousness of hepatitis encourages individuals to get the hepatitis vaccine.

Nature and intensity of perceptions affect willingness to take preventive action. Nature and intensity of perceptions affect willingness to take preventive action.
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Categories of Belief
Benefits
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Barriers
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Anticipated value of the recommended course of action. Must believe recommended health action will do good if they are to comply.

Perception of negative consequences Greatest predictive value of whether behavior will be practiced.

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Stages of Change
Precontemplation q Contemplation q Preparation q Action q Maintenance
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Precontemplation
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Definition
v Not

considering changing their behavior v Lack of awareness

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Intervention Approach
v Novel

information v Persuasive communications v Experiences

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Contemplation
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Definition
v Person

is beginning to consider behavior

change v Important stage of information acquisition

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Intervention Approach
v Motivated

by role modeling and persuasive communications v Receptive to planned or incidental learning experiences.
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Preparation
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Definition
v Deciding

to change by preparing and experimenting. v Psychological preparation of trying on or visualizing new behaviors and sharing the idea with others. Deciding to change.
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Intervention Approach
v How-to

information, skill development, attitude change

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Action
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Definition
v Actually

trying the new behavior

Intervention Approach
v Skill v Reinforcement v Support v Self-management v Attitude

and attribution change

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Maintenance
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Definition
v Establishment

of the new behavior v Taking on the new attitudinal and environmental supports
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Intervention Approach
v Relapse

prevention skills v Self-management v Social and environmental support

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Discussion Time
Identify one of your health beliefs that may not be entirely healthy and place it in the model. q What might move you to change your behavior?
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Summary
Behavior change involves many factors, including cognitive and affective variables. q Health Promotion is based on several theoretical models that help explain health behavior. q Understanding an individuals readiness to change is an important aspect of their potential for success in behavior change.
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