Learning & Models of Behavior Change

1. Learning & Models of Behavior Change Diane B. Wilson EdD, RD Mary S. McLellan MS,RD Medical University of South Carolina

2. 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)

3. OBJECTIVES • Behavior change theory, role in changing health habits

4. Major Variablesin Behavior Change • Knowledge • Skills • Beliefs • Attitudes • Values

5. Health Belief Model INDIVIDUAL PERCEPTIONS MODIFYING FACTORS LIKELIHOOD OF ACTION Demographic Variables Socio-psychological Variables Perceived susceptibility Perceived severity Perceived benefits of preventive action Perceived barriers to prevent action Likelihood of taking recommended preventive health action Perceived threat Cues to Action Information Reminders Persuasive communications Experience

6. Categories of Belief • Perceived Seriousness • Perceived Susceptibility • Perceived Benefits • Perceived Barriers

7. Seriousness Relative severity of the health problem. E.g. Seriousness of hepatitis encourages individuals to get the hepatitis vaccine. Susceptibility Nature and intensity of perceptions affect willingness to take preventive action. Nature and intensity of perceptions affect willingness to take preventive action. Categories of Belief

8. Benefits Anticipated value of the recommended course of action. Must believe recommended health action will do good if they are to comply. Barriers Perception of negative consequences Greatest predictive value of whether behavior will be practiced. Categories of Belief

9. Stages of Change • Precontemplation • Contemplation • Preparation • Action • Maintenance

10. Precontemplation • Definition • Not considering changing their behavior • Lack of awareness • Intervention Approach • Novel information • Persuasive communications • Experiences

11. Contemplation • Definition • Person is beginning to consider behavior change • Important stage of information acquisition • Intervention Approach • Motivated by role modeling and persuasive communications • Receptive to planned or incidental learning experiences.

12. Preparation • Definition • Deciding to change by preparing and experimenting. • Psychological preparation of trying on or visualizing new behaviors and sharing the idea with others. Deciding to change. • Intervention Approach • How-to information, skill development, attitude change

13. Action • Definition • Actually trying the new behavior • Intervention Approach • Skill • Reinforcement • Support • Self-management • Attitude and attribution change

14. Maintenance • Definition • Establishment of the new behavior • Taking on the new attitudinal and environmental supports • Intervention Approach • Relapse prevention skills • Self-management • Social and environmental support

15. Discussion Time • Identify one of your health beliefs that may not be entirely healthy and place it in the model. • What might move you to change your behavior?

16. Summary • Behavior change involves many factors, including cognitive and affective variables. • Health Promotion is based on several theoretical models that help explain health behavior. • Understanding an individual’s “readiness to change” is an important aspect of their potential for success in behavior change.