Behavioral Factors in Disease and Disorder

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Questions and Answers

What is a major contributor to the decline of acute infectious disorders?

Increased health insurance coverage

Higher rates of vaccination in all demographics

Advancements in social media awareness campaigns

Improved public health standards (correct)

Which of the following behaviours is NOT considered a major modifiable risk factor for deaths in Canada?

Physical inactivity

Poor diet

High cholesterol (correct)

Smoking

What is one of the beneficial effects of successful health behaviour modification?

Short-term physical well-being

Expansion of life expectancy (correct)

Increased rates of smoking

Immediate reduction in healthcare costs

Which statement best describes a preventative disorder?

A disease primarily caused by lifestyle choices Signup and view all the answers

What demographic factor can influence the practice of health behaviours?

Level of education attained Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant relationship identified in research regarding health behaviour change?

Self-efficacy and willingness to try quitting Signup and view all the answers

Which two factors were originally included in the health belief model to explain health behaviour practice?

Perceived health threat and perceived threat reduction Signup and view all the answers

What are the subcomponents of perceived threat reduction according to the health belief model?

Perceived efficacy and perceived barriers Signup and view all the answers

How does self-efficacy influence health behaviour?

It affects the readiness to perform health behaviours Signup and view all the answers

What influences the perception of a personal health threat?

General health values, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity Signup and view all the answers

What role do cues to action play in the health belief model?

They activate readiness to act on health behaviours Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes self-efficacy in health behaviour change?

It can deter individuals from taking effective health actions despite perceived health threats Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding perceived susceptibility?

It refers to specific beliefs about one's vulnerability to health disorders Signup and view all the answers

What are some common barriers that prevent women from obtaining regular mammograms?

Fear of radiation and embarrassment over the procedure Signup and view all the answers

Which demographic groups are identified as being less likely to have regular cancer screenings?

Immigrant women and women without regular doctors Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common screening test for prostate cancer?

Digital rectal exam (DRE) Signup and view all the answers

What is the principle of modelling in the context of health behaviour change?

Learning by witnessing another person perform a behaviour. Signup and view all the answers

At what age is prostate cancer screening recommended?

Over 50 years old Signup and view all the answers

Which type of modelling is more effective in reducing anxiety related to health behaviours?

Observing models who can manage their fear. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common screening recommendation for colorectal cancer?

Once every two years for those aged 50-74 Signup and view all the answers

What role does a discriminative stimulus play in behaviour?

It is an environmental cue that can elicit a behaviour. Signup and view all the answers

What factor significantly contributes to the rising rates of colorectal cancer among indigenous populations?

Lack of access to screening Signup and view all the answers

In self-help programs for destructive health habits, what is typically shared among participants?

Personal experiences and successful methods for overcoming problems. Signup and view all the answers

What is the most preventable form of cancer mentioned?

Skin cancer Signup and view all the answers

Why might modelling be particularly effective in addressing realistic difficulties in behaviour change?

It demonstrates the actual challenges encountered during change. Signup and view all the answers

Which age group shows the highest rates of inadequate sun protection practices?

18-29 years old Signup and view all the answers

What role does socioeconomic status play in cancer screening?

Lower levels may lead to fewer regular health checks. Signup and view all the answers

What are some reasons that women report for getting mammograms when they do?

Part of a routine follow-up care Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in self-observation and self-monitoring?

Learning to discriminate the target behavior Signup and view all the answers

What does the 'ostrich problem' refer to in the context of health behavior change?

The tendency to avoid self-monitoring of health behaviors Signup and view all the answers

In classical conditioning, what is the role of the unconditioned stimulus?

It produces a conditioned response without prior learning Signup and view all the answers

What typically occurs by the end of the formal intervention stage in behavior-change programs?

Clients begin to self-monitor their own behaviour Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes self-observation?

The assessment of target behavior frequency and its context Signup and view all the answers

What is a common reason people may resist tracking their health behaviors?

They fear overemphasizing positive changes Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of self-monitoring techniques in behavior change?

To help clients track and evaluate their own behaviors Signup and view all the answers

What might be a consequence of successfully applying classical conditioning in behavior change?

A conditioned reflex is developed in response to a new stimulus Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Behavioural Factors in Disease and Disorder

The prevalence of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, influenza, measles, and poliomyelitis has declined due to advancements in treatments and improved public health standards like improved waste control and sewage.
There has been an increase in "preventive" disorders like lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, alcohol and drug abuse, and vehicular accidents.
It is estimated that almost half the deaths in Canada are caused by modifiable behavior, with smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity being the leading social behavior risk factors.
Cancer deaths alone could be reduced by 30-50% by promoting lifestyle changes like avoiding smoking, eating more fruits and vegetables, increasing physical activity, protecting oneself from the sun, early detection and screening, and safe handling of hazardous materials.
Successful modification of health behavior can have several beneficial effects, including reducing deaths due to lifestyle-related diseases, delaying the time of death and increasing longevity, expanding years of life free from chronic diseases, and potentially reducing healthcare costs.

Socioeconomic Factors

Health behaviors differ according to demographic factors, which influence how individuals perceive a health threat and its possible solutions.
Research shows a strong link between perceptions of self-efficacy and both initial health behavior change and long-term maintenance of that change.

The Health Belief Model

The health belief model posits that a person’s practice of a particular health behavior is influenced by their perception of a personal health threat and their belief in the effectiveness of a particular health practice in reducing that threat.
The model was updated to include cues to action and self-efficacy, further explaining the complexities of changing unhealthy behaviors.

Perceived Health Threat

The perception of a personal health threat is influenced by general health values, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity.
General health values refer to interest and concern about health.
Perceived susceptibility refers to an individual’s beliefs about their personal vulnerability to a specific disorder.
Perceived severity involves beliefs about the consequences of the disorder, including their perceived seriousness.

Perceived Threat Reduction

Whether a person believes a health measure will reduce a health threat depends on perceived efficacy (belief in the effectiveness of a health practice) and perceived barriers (weighing the cost of undertaking the measure against its potential benefits).

Cues to Action

The health belief model suggests that perceived health threat and perceived threat reduction influence an individual's readiness to act.
Cues to action are people, events, or things that trigger this readiness and stimulate behavior change.

Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy is a crucial factor in health behavior change and maintenance.
It explains why some individuals may not perform a health behavior even if they believe it will effectively reduce a health threat.
Self-efficacy can be enhanced through various strategies like setting realistic goals, mastering skills, and receiving positive reinforcement.

Obtaining Mammograms

Women who are immigrants, smokers, and lack a regular family doctor are less likely to undergo mammograms.
Deterring factors include fear of radiation, embarrassment, anticipated pain, anxiety, fear of cancer, lack of perceived need, lack of awareness, time constraints, lack of incentive, and limited accessibility.
Among women who do have a mammogram, 70% do so as part of a routine follow-up, highlighting the need for health professionals to encourage regular screenings.
Educational programs aimed at raising awareness of mammography need to be culturally sensitive, considering the beliefs, attitudes, and practices of different minority groups.
The Theory of Planned Behaviour proposes that perceived behavior control is crucial in predicting mammography use, and incorporating optimism and risk perception may enhance the model's effectiveness.
Barriers to accessing mammography services include navigating multiple appointments with different specialists, limited healthcare access for minority and older women, and the influence of socioeconomic status.

Prostate Cancer Screening

In Canada, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and the third leading cause of death from cancer.
Risk for prostate cancer increases with age, and screening is recommended for men over 50.
Two screening tests are available for early detection: the digital rectal exam (DRE) and the prostate-specific antigen test (PSA).
Both tests are susceptible to false positives and false negatives.

Colorectal Cancer Screening

In Western countries, colorectal cancer is the second highest cause of cancerous deaths.
In Canada, it is among the five most common cancers for both men and women.
Colorectal cancer incidence is increasing at higher rates among Indigenous people in Canada.
Screening is recommended at least once every two years for those aged 50-74 with normal risk, and more frequently for high-risk individuals.

Sun Safety Practices

In Canada, over 7,200 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year.
Malignant melanoma claims over 1,200 lives annually in the country.
Skin cancer is the most common and preventable form of cancer.
Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation is a key risk factor.
Women are more likely than men to practice sun-protective behaviours.
Sun safety behaviours increase with age, with younger individuals (18-29) demonstrating higher rates of sun exposure and lack of sun protective practices.
Tanning beds, living in southern latitudes, and outdoor activities increase ultraviolet radiation exposure.
Many people use inadequate SPF (sun protection factor) in sunscreen.

Exercise and Health

Most behavior-change programs initially focus on the client as the object of change, but gradually shift control to the client over time.
By the end of formal intervention, clients are monitoring their own behavior and rewarding themselves appropriately.
Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions draw upon several behavior-change techniques, including:

Self-Observation and Self-Monitoring

Self-observation and self-monitoring assess the frequency of a target behavior and its antecedents and consequences.
This involves identifying the target behavior and recording its occurrence.
Although self-observation is often an initial step, it can itself lead to behavior change.
Resistance to self-monitoring can stem from a desire to protect or enhance one’s self-image during slow progress, leading to the "ostrich problem" that can interfere with successful change.

Classical Conditioning

One of the earliest identified principles of behavior change.
It involves pairing an unconditioned reflex with a new stimulus, producing a conditioned reflex.
For example, using antabuse (unconditioned stimulus) in the treatment of alcoholism, which produces nausea, gagging, and vomiting (unconditioned response) when taken with alcohol.

Modelling

Learning by observing another person performing a behavior.
Modelling can also occur through video observation.
It is a key principle in some self-help programs, where individuals struggling with habits share their experiences and strategies.
Modelling can reduce anxiety associated with bad habits or preventative health behaviors.
Realistic models demonstrating both successes and challenges are most effective.

Stimulus Control

A discriminative stimulus is an environmental cue that triggers a particular behavior (e.g., the sight of food eliciting eating).
Stimulus control interventions aim to either reduce the frequency of a behavior by eliminating or modifying discriminative stimuli or increase the frequency of a behavior by rearranging or adding new stimuli.

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Description

This quiz explores the impact of behavior on health, particularly looking at how modifiable factors contribute to diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. It highlights the importance of preventive measures and lifestyle changes in reducing the incidence of these disorders. Understanding these behavioral factors can lead to significant health improvements.