Should Health Behavior Change be the Objective of Health Education?

1981 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 379-380
Author(s):  
Phil Heit ◽  
Linda Brower Meeks ◽  
Godfrey M. Hochbaum
1992 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Baranowski

A problem for health education practice is how to interest people in making a health behavior change and maintain that interest throughout the behavior change process. Beliefs can provide motivational force for people to perform health behaviors. Five theories: 1) Diffusion of Innovations (DIT); 2) Health Belief Model (HBM); 3) Reasoned Action (TRA); 4) Locus of Control (LOC); and 5) Social Learning (SLT), are reviewed for motivational factors in promoting health behavior changes at each of six stages in the behavior change process: precontemplation, decision, training, initiation, and maintenance. A degree of overlap and complementariness are identified among the theories resulting in a syntheoretical model of beliefs as motivators in the behavior change process. The common emphasis among the theories on expectancies or cost-benefit calculations is highlighted, suggesting several strategies for employing these considerations in health education campaigns. The paucity of motivational ideas for promoting change among the externally controlled—late majority is noted. Further research must be conducted before these ideas should be generally implemented in practice.


2018 ◽  
pp. e000116
Author(s):  
Manoj Sharma

Intelligence Quotient (IQ) has been used for a long time to test for readiness of individuals with regard to their learning abilities.  It offers limited utility in ascertaining readiness toward health behavior change.  Work on emotional quotient (EQ) and X quotient (XQ) has been done in recent years but has not been applied for determining readiness toward health behavior change through health education and health promotion interventions.  The purpose of this editorial is to propose a novel concept of perfection quotient (PQ) that integrates IQ, EQ and XQ for ascertaining the readiness for health behavior change through health education and health promotion interventions in a variety of target populations. Such measure will be invaluable in ameliorating the impact of health education and health promotion interventions.


2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kara Harrington ◽  
Maureen E. Kenny ◽  
Deirdre Brogan ◽  
Lynn Y. Walsh

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Brownlow

BACKGROUND Smartphone applications (apps) are an ideal tool that is highly accessible to people who wish to begin self-treatment for depression. While many studies have performed content analyses on healthcare apps, few studies have reviewed these apps for adherence to behavior theory. Furthermore, apps for depression management are underrepresented in healthcare research. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to assess mHealth depression apps using SDT as a theoretical framework for meeting needs of autonomy, competence and, relatedness METHODS All depression healthcare apps available in Australia from the iTunes and Google Play app stores that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Each app was reviewed based on price options, store availability, download rates, and how in-app functions met the three basic needs for motivation towards health behavior change outlined in the Self-Determination Theory (SDT). RESULTS The analysis of the apps showed that most apps were free to download (69.9%) and addressed at least one of the three needs (81.4%) of SDT. However, few apps addressed all three of the basic needs through their functions (7.7%), and no apps hosted all functions expected to stimulate motivation for health behavior change. Furthermore, neither store availability, price option nor download rate were accurate predictors that apps hosted in-app functions expected to meet the basic needs. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that some depression healthcare apps that meet the basic needs would effectively stimulate motivation (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness). However, each individual app is limited in its number of functions that meet the basic needs. People who want access to more functions would need to download a suite of apps.


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