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Thomassen, Anne Kari. "Primærlegen og den røykende pasient. : 1. En sammenliknende studie av legers praksisendring i perioden 2001-2004.2. En randomisert kontrollert studie av effekten av en opplæring i individuell røykeintervensjon." Thesis, Nordic School of Public Health NHV, 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:norden:org:diva-3256.
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Bakgrunn: Røyking blir fortsatt betraktet som den viktigste forebyggbare årsak til død i ge land. Praktiserende leger er nøkkelpersoner innen tobakksforebygging. Enkel rådgiving, som minimal intervensjon, gitt av allmennleger øker andelen røykfrie pasienter signifikant. Kan en oppsøkende intervensjon gjennomført av en likemann være en egnet metode for å få leger til å ta opp tobakksbruk oftere og på en bedre måte, og kan denne undersøkelsen påvise dette? Hensikt: Hensikten med denne studien er: 1) Vurdere om primærlegene i Agder har endret praksis i perioden 2001-2004 med hensyn til hvor ofte og hvordan de tar opp tobakksbruk med sine pasienter og eventuelle hindringer for dette. 2) Undersøke om oppsøkende intervensjon er en egnet metode for å få leger til å endre praksis ved at de bidrar mer og bedre med individuell røykeintervensjon. Metode: Randomisert kontrollert studie for å undersøke om oppsøkende intervensjon er en egnet metode for å få leger til å endre praksis. Denne studien er sett i lys av en sammenliknende analyse av legenes røykeintervensjon og hindringer for dette i perioden 2001-2004. Resultat: Allmennlegene i Agder har endret praksis i perioden 2001 til 2004. Legene tar oftere opp tobakksbruk uten av pasientene har røykerelaterte symptomer, og det er færre hindringer både for å spørre om røykevaner og for å tilby hjelp til røykeslutt. Studien kan ikke bekrefte at oppsøkende intervensjonen er en egnet metode for å få leger til endre praksis ved at de bidrar mer og bedre med individuell røykeintervensjon. Konklusjon: I perioden 2001-2004 har det vært en signifikant endring i legenes røykeintervensjon og hindringer for dette. Studien kan ikke påvise at legene som fikk opplæringen ”Røykeslutt i praksis” bidrar mer med individuell røykeintervensjon enn kontrollgruppen, og det er heller ikke signifikante forkjeller på hindringer for en slik intervensjonBackground: Cigarette smoking is still considered the leading preventable cause of death in the western world. Physicians constitutes a key personnel in tobacco prevention. Brief advising, such as minimal intervention, performed by general practitioners, GPs, increases the number of smoke free patients significantly. The potential effect of outreach visits performed by a peer educator is a question to be studied. Objective: The objective of this study is: 1) Assesswhether the primary physicians in Agder, during the period 2001 to 2004, have changed their professional practice as tohow often and in which way they discuss smoking habits with their patients and possible barriers to stop them. 2) The study also seeks to determine whether outreach visits constitute an effective method to make GPs change their professional practice by contributing more and better to individual smoking cessation. Method: Randomised controlled study to determine whether outreach visits constitute an effective method to make GPs change their practice. This study is also viewed in the light of a comparative analysis of doctors’ attitude to tobacco prevention over the period 2001-2004. Result: During the period 2001-2004 the GPs in Agder have changed their professional practice. They discuss more frequently tobacco use with patients without smoke-related symptoms, and there are fewer barriers that keep them from asking about smoking habits and from offering assistance with smoking cessation. The effect of outreach visits in improving professional practice cannot be ascertained through this study. Conclusion: During the period 2001-2004 there has been a significant change in the GPs intervention work and fewer barriers to stop them. The GPs who received training through the program “Røykeslutt i praksis” do not contribute to individual smoke intervention any more than the control group. We were unable to detect any significant differences regarding barriers to such intervention
ISBN 91-7997-153-9
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Sprague, Daniel Alexander. "Modelling health behaviour." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2015. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/77458/.
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Many diseases can be prevented or mitigated through behaviour change, but we lack a quantitative model that can accurately predict these changes and inform policies designed to promote them. Here we introduce a quantitative model of health behaviour that takes into account individual-level barriers, the health system, and spread between individuals. We investigate limits of the model where each of these determining factors is dominant, and use them to predict behaviour from data. We apply the model to individual-level geographic barriers to mothers giving birth in a health facility, and find evidence that ease-of-access is a major determinant of delivery location. The geographic barriers allow us to explain the observed spatial distribution of this behaviour, and to accurately predict low prevalence regions. We then apply the model to the role of the health system in determining health facility usage by mothers of sick children. We show that local health facility quality does predict usage, but that this predictive power is significantly less than that gained by including unaccounted-for spatial correlation such as social influence. We also show evidence that results-based funding, rather than traditional input-based funding, increases usage. We develop a psychologically-motivated ‘complex contagion’ model for social influence and incorporate it into a general model of behaviour spread. We apply this model to short-lived behavioural fads, and show that ‘nudges’ can be very effective in systems with social influence. We successfully fit the model to data for the online spread of real-world behaviour, and use it to predict the peak time and duration of a fad before the peak occurred. Finally, we discuss ways to incorporate disease state into the model, and to relax the limits used in the rest of the thesis. We consider a model which links health behaviour to disease, and show that complex contagion leads to a feature that is not present in traditional models of disease: the survival of an epidemic depends non-trivially on the initial fraction of the population that is infected. We then introduce two possible models that include both social influence and an inhomogeneous population, and discuss the type of data that might be required to use them predictively. The model introduced here can be used to understand and predict health behaviours, and we therefore believe that it provides a valuable tool for informing policies to combat disease.
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Pulsford, Richard Michael. "Sedentary behaviour and health." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10871/15679.
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The term sedentary refers to a distinct class of activities which involve sitting or reclining and which do not cause an increase in energy expenditure above resting levels. Observational studies have reported positive associations between both sedentary time and the number of hours spent sitting per day, with risk for a number of health outcomes that are independent of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The total time spent sitting can be amassed in different patterns (long and short bouts) and different types (watching TV, driving, working at a computer) that may have differential associations with health outcomes as well as different confounders that have yet to be properly explored. Further, limitations in current measures used to quantify sedentary behaviour and the possibility of residual confounding, mean that it is unclear whether the posture of sitting itself represents a risk to health or whether sitting is actually a proxy for low energy expenditure. This thesis aimed to examine; the associations between five separate sitting types with health risk, the prevalence of sitting behaviour in England, and the biological mechanisms which might underpin the observed negative health consequences of sitting. Using data from the Whitehall II cohort study the first four studies of this thesis examined prospective associations between sitting at work, TV viewing, non-TV leisure time sitting, total leisure time sitting (TV and non-TV leisure sitting combined) and total sitting from work and leisure, with four health outcomes; mortality, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and obesity. No association between any of the sitting indicators with risk for mortality or incident cardiovascular disease was found. TV viewing and total sitting were associated with an increase in risk for type II diabetes following adjustment for sociodemographic covariates and MVPA, but were attenuated following further adjustment for body mass index. None of the five sitting indicators were associated with incident obesity but being obese prior to the measurement of sitting was associated with the number of reported hours of daily TV viewing. The final study of this thesis examined the acute effect of sustained versus interrupted sitting on glucose and insulin metabolism. Interrupting sitting with repeated short bouts of light intensity walking significantly improved insulin sensitivity while repeated short bouts of standing did not. Sitting is a prevalent behaviour in English adults and varies by socio-demographic characteristics. Previously reported associations between sitting time and health risk may be confounded by light intensity physical activity and obesity. The absence of an effect of repeated standing bouts (a change in posture without a change in energy expenditure) suggests that promoting reductions in sitting without also promoting increases in movement are not likely to lead to improvements in metabolic health. New measures of sedentary behaviour are required that can be used in population studies, and can discriminate between the posture of sitting, standing and very low levels of physical activity of a light intensity. This would permit further studies that are needed to clarify the precise nature of the association between sitting and health.
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Crispim, Juliane de Almeida. "O agente comunitário de saúde no controle da tuberculose em duas modalidades de Atenção Primária à Saúde no município de Ribeirão Preto/SP." Universidade de São Paulo, 2013. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/22/22133/tde-11062013-200401/.
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O diagnóstico precoce da tuberculose é uma das prioridades do Plano Nacional de Controle da Tuberculose, sendo que nas visitas domiciliares dos Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACS) está prevista a detecção de casos entre sintomáticos respiratórios e contatos. Dada a importância deste ator no controle da doença, este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o desempenho do ACS no controle da tuberculose em duas modalidades de Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS). Trata-se de um estudo descritivo exploratório de corte transversal realizado no período de junho de 2009 a janeiro de 2010 com 39 ACS da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) e 69 ACS da Unidade Básicas de Saúde (UBS) do município de Ribeirão Preto/SP. A coleta de dados ocorreu mediante a observação da estrutura das unidades de saúde investigadas (roteiro observacional) e por meio de entrevistas direcionadas aos ACS (instrumento com escala Likert de resposta). O plano analítico se deu em dois momentos, inicialmente procedeu à análise descritiva e bivariada, e posteriormente a Análise de Correspondência Múltipla (ACM). Os escores médios das respostas dos entrevistados aos itens do instrumento que continham escala Likert, foram analisados como insatisfatório (valores próximos de 1 e 2), regular (próximo de 3) e satisfatório (próximos de 4 e 5). De acordo com a observação, as modalidades de APS apresentaram fragilidades em relação à estrutura para consecução das ações de controle da tuberculose pelo ACS como ausência de insumos para detecção dos casos da doença, falta de rotina sistematizada e de profissionais responsáveis pelas ações de controle da tuberculose. No julgamento dos ACS, identificaram-se escores satisfatórios relacionados à capacitação e ao preparo dos mesmos para a realização de tais ações. Com relação ao desempenho do ACS, notou-se diferença com significância estatística na investigação dos comunicantes no domicílio, sendo que os ACS inseridos nas UBS questionam mais a presença de tosse entre os comunicantes quando comparados àqueles inscritos nas ESF. Observou-se em ambas as modalidades de APS, escores satisfatórios em relação à identificação de sintomáticos respiratórios na visita domiciliar, a participação dos ACS em discussões sobre a tuberculose na equipe e ao apoio institucional ofertado frente a uma situação de suspeita da doença, e escores insatisfatórios relacionados às ações desenvolvidas pelo ACS na comunidade. Na ACM identificou-se a correspondência entre as ações de controle da tuberculose e a interação dos ACS com a equipe, independente da modalidade de APS, na qual eles se inserem. Ao se cotejarem os resultados obtidos, aponta-se para a necessidade de mudanças no processo de trabalho, consubstanciadas pela qualificação, valorização e motivação do ACS. No que tange às fragilidades que fogem à sua governabilidade, cabe à gestão municipal apoiar dispositivos institucionais para produção em saúde condizente com a complexidade epidemiológica e social da tuberculose.The early diagnosis of tuberculosis is one of the priorities in the National Tuberculosis Control Plan. Home visits by Community Health Workers (CHW) are expected to include case detection among respiratory symptomatics and contacts. Given the importance of these agents in disease control, this study was aimed at analyzing the performance of CHW in tuberculosis control in two Primary Health Care (PHC) modalities. A descriptive and exploratory cross-sectional study was carried out between June 2009 and January 2010, involving 39 CHW from the Family Health Strategy (FHS) and 69 CHW from Primary Health Care Units in Ribeirão Preto, a city in São Paulo State, Brazil. Data were collected by observing the structure of the health units under analysis (observational script) and through interviews with the CHW (instrument with a Likert-type response scale). Analysis involved two phases. Initially, descriptive and bivariate analysis was applied, followed by Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). The interviewees\' mean answer scores to the instrument items that contained a Likert scale were analyzed as unsatisfactory (scores close to 1 and 2), regular (close to 3) and satisfactory (close to 4 and 5). According to the observation, the PHC modalities revealed weaknesses in their structure to allow the CHW to practice tuberculosis control actions, such as lack of inputs to detect cases of the disease, lack of a systemized routine and of professionals responsible for tuberculosis control actions. According to the CHW, satisfactory scores were identified regarding their training and preparation to accomplish these actions. Concerning the CHW\' performance, a statistically significant difference was observed in the investigation of communicants at home, with the CHW working at Primary Health Care Units inquiring further about the presence of cough among communicants when compared to those working in FHS. In both PHC modalities, satisfactory scores were observed for the identification of respiratory symptomatics during home visits, the CHW\' participation in tuberculosis discussions in the team and the institutional support offered when the presence of the disease was suspected, against unsatisfactory scores for the CHW\' actions in the community. In the MCA, correspondence was identified between tuberculosis control actions and the CHW\' interaction with the team, independently of the PHC modality. The comparison of the results obtained reveals the need for changes in the work process, in the form of qualification, valuation and motivation of the CHW. Regarding the weaknesses they have no control over, municipal managers are responsible for supporting institutional devices to produce health in accordance with the epidemiological and social complexity of tuberculosis.
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Hirvonen, N. (Noora). "Health information matters:everyday health information literacy and behaviour in relation to health behaviour and physical health among young men." Doctoral thesis, Oulun yliopisto, 2015. http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:9789526210407.
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Abstract This study increases the understanding of young men’s everyday health information literacy and behaviour in relation to their health behaviour, physical health, and socio-demographic characteristics. The conceptual framework of the study builds upon theories of information behaviour, practices and literacy, and health behaviour change. The empirical data were collected with questionnaires (n = 3,293) and physiological measurements (n = 3,063) in 2010 to 2013 at the Finnish Defence Forces’ call-ups, where a population-based sample of young Finnish men could be reached. Everyday health information literacy was studied using a previously developed screening tool, and with a focus on its relationship with health behaviour and physical fitness. Information behaviour was investigated in the context of physical activity, and in relation to men’s readiness to change exercise behaviour according to the Transtheoretical Model. Statistical analyses of the data include multivariate regression analyses, and a critical realist approach was adopted in interpreting the results. The results show that general upper secondary education and higher socio-economic position of a parent increase the likelihood of good health information literacy. Health information literacy is positively associated with health-promoting behaviour and health independent of socio-economic position; confidence in one’s abilities to find, evaluate and use health information is associated with regular exercise and healthy eating habits, and good physical fitness, for example. In the context of physical activity, the practices used to acquire information are associated with the stage of exercise behaviour change. Men in the maintenance stage seek information most actively. Information avoidance, in turn, is connected to low health information literacy, not to the stage of change. The study provides novel knowledge on healthy young people’s everyday health information literacy and behaviour, and on their relationship. It is among the first to investigate health information behaviour in the stages of behaviour change and health information literacy in connection with objectively measured fitness. It proposes a framework for future studies on the relationship between health information literacy and behaviour, and health information outcomes. The results may be utilised when designing tailored health communications and health information literacy educationTiivistelmä Tutkimus lisää ymmärrystä siitä, millainen yhteys nuorten miesten arkielämän terveystiedon lukutaidolla ja terveystietokäyttäytymisellä on terveyskäyttäytymiseen, fyysiseen terveyteen ja sosiodemografisiin tekijöihin. Sen käsitteellinen viitekehys rakentuu tietokäyttäytymisen ja -käytäntöjen, terveystiedon lukutaidon sekä terveyskäyttäytymisen muutoksen teorioille. Tutkimuksen aineisto kerättiin kyselyillä (n = 3 293) ja fysiologisilla mittauksilla (n = 3 063) vuosina 2010–2013 Puolustusvoimien Oulun alueen kutsuntatilaisuuksissa, joissa oli mahdollista saavuttaa suomalaisten nuorten miesten väestöpohjainen otos. Terveystiedon lukutaitoa arvioitiin aiemmin kehitetyllä seulontavälineellä sekä suhteessa terveyskäyttäytymiseen ja fyysiseen kuntoon. Terveystietokäyttäytymistä tarkasteltiin liikunnan kontekstissa ja suhteessa transteoreettisen mallin mukaiseen liikuntakäyttäytymisen muutosvalmiuteen. Aineistot analysoitiin tilastollisesti monimuuttujamenetelmin, ja tuloksia tulkittiin kriittisen realismin näkökulmasta. Tulokset osoittavat, että lukiokoulutus ja korkeassa sosioekonomisessa asemassa oleva vanhempi lisäävät hyvän arkielämän terveystiedon lukutaidon todennäköisyyttä. Terveystiedon lukutaito on positiivisesti yhteydessä terveyttä edistäviin elintapoihin ja terveyteen sosioekonomisesta asemasta riippumatta. Luottamus omiin kykyihin löytää, arvioida ja ymmärtää terveystietoa on yhteydessä muun muassa säännölliseen liikuntaan ja terveellisiin syömistottumuksiin sekä hyvään fyysiseen kuntoon. Liikunnan kontekstissa terveystietokäytännöt kytkeytyvät käyttäytymisen muutosvaiheeseen. Aktiivisimmin liikuntatietoa hankkivat liikuntakäyttäytymisen ylläpitovaiheessa olevat. Tiedon välttäminen sen sijaan on yhteydessä alhaiseen terveystiedon lukutaitoon, ei muutosvaiheeseen. Tutkimus tuottaa uutta tietoa nuorten, terveiden ihmisten arkielämän terveystiedon lukutaidosta ja terveystietokäyttäytymisestä sekä niiden suhteesta toisiinsa. Uutta on myös terveystietokäytäntöjen tutkiminen terveyskäyttäytymisen muutosvaiheissa ja terveystiedon lukutaidon tarkastelu suhteessa objektiivisesti mitattuun fyysiseen kuntoon. Tutkimuksessa esitetään viitekehys tuleville tutkimuksille terveystiedon lukutaidon ja tietokäytäntöjen vaikutuksesta terveyteen. Tulokset ovat hyödynnettävissä räätälöidyn terveysviestinnän ja terveystiedon lukutaidon koulutuksen suunnittelussa
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Pryce, Joanna. "Working hours, health and behaviour." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.415020.
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Wadlow, Sarah Jane. "Conditions for health behaviour change." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14325.
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Bibliography: leaves 75-80.The impact of an academic course in health psychology on students' health behaviour is assessed. It was contended that this course motivated students to improve their personal health behaviours, as it contained all the elements necessary for persuasion. It was hypothesised that (a) self-reported health behaviour would improve from pre- to post-course assessment, (b) any improvements would not have been maintained at the follow-up evaluation, (c) the components of the Health Belief Model (HBM) would predict the various health behaviours. The subjects were all third year psychology students at the University of Cape Town, attending an optional course in health psychology. They completed a self-report health behaviour questionnaire (Lifestyle Evaluation Questionnaire) prior to commencement of the course and again at the end of the six week course. At a follow-up, eight months after the completion of the course, (86) students who had completed both previous questions were mailed another (LEQ) questionnaire. They were also requested to complete a questionnaire (based on the HBM), assessing their beliefs about health behaviour (the Lifestyle Beliefs Questionnaire). 42 (49%) subjects returned the questionnaires. At-test of mean differences was conducted to determine if the four Lifestyle Evaluation Questionnaire (LEQ) factors - food, exercise, drugs and care - had changed significantly over time. Exercise, food and care behaviour had improved significantly from pre- to post-course assessment to follow-up (p < .05). Hypothesis one was, therefore, partially supported, and hypothesis two was not supported by the findings. A number of explanations for these findings are proposed. In short, it appears that exercising is regarded as more enjoyable and beneficial by a young population than other preventive health behaviours. The HBM components of benefits, barriers, susceptibility, motivation, cues to action, attitude, and enabling variables were regressed against the four LEQ factors to determine if these HBM components could predict the health behaviours. Benefits predicted exercise and drug use, barriers predicted exercise behaviour, and susceptibility predicted drug use. These three HBM components were found by Janz & Becker's (1984) review to be the most powerful predictors of health behaviours. Limitations of this "naturalistic" study are discussed and it is concluded that persuasive communication is necessary to motivate young, healthy adults to practise positive health behaviours.
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Forster, Martin. "Economics, inequalities in health and health-related behaviour." Thesis, University of York, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.245870.
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GYASI, Razak Mohammed. "Ageing, health and health-seeking behaviour in Ghana." Digital Commons @ Lingnan University, 2018. https://commons.ln.edu.hk/otd/41.
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Rapid ageing of populations globally following reductions in fertility and mortality rates has become one of the most significant demographic features in recent decades. As a low- and middle-income country, Ghana has one of the largest and fastest growing older populations in sub-Saharan Africa, where ageing often occurs ahead of socioeconomic development and provision of health and social care services. Older persons in these contexts often face greater health challenges and various life circumstances including role loss, retirement, irregular incomes and widowhood, which can increase their demand for both formal and informal support. This thesis addresses the effects of the socio-political structure, informal social support and micro-level factors on health and health-seeking behaviour among community-dwelling older persons in Ghana. The theoretical perspectives draw on political economy of ageing, social convoy theory and Andersen5s behavioural model. Using multi-stage stratified cluster cross-sectional survey data of older cohorts (N= 1,200) aged 50 years and older, multivariate generalised Poisson and logit regression models estimated the associations among variables and interaction terms. Although Ghana’s national health insurance scheme (NHIS) enrollment was significantly associated with increased log count of healthcare use (β = 0.237), the relationship was largely a function of health status. Moreover, the NHIS was related with improved time from onset of illness to healthcare use (β = 1.347). However, even with NHIS enrollment, the intermediate (OR = 1.468) and richer groups (OR = 2.149) had higher odds of seeking healthcare compared with the poor. In addition, features of meaningful informal social support including contacts with family and friends, social participation and remittances significantly improved psychological wellbeing and health services utilisation. Somewhat counter-intuitively, spousal cohabitation was associated with decreased health services use (OR = 0.999). Whilst self-rated health revealed a strong positive association with functional status of older persons (fair SRH: β = 1.346; poor SRH: β = 2.422), the relationship differed by gender and also was moderated by marital status for women but not men. The employed and urban residents somewhat surprisingly had lower odds of formal healthcare use. The findings support the hypotheses that interactive impacts of aspects of structural and functional social support and removal of catastrophic healthcare costs are particularly important in older persons’ psychological health and health service utilisation. Nevertheless, Ghana’s NHIS currently apparently lacks the capacity to improve equitable attendance at health facility between poor and non-poor. In contributing to the public health and social policy discourse, this study proposes that, whilst policies to ensure improved health status of older people are recommended, multidimensional social support and NHIS policy should be properly resourced and strengthened so they may act as critical tools for improving health and health services utilization of this marginalized and vulnerable older people in Ghana. Moreover, policies targeting and addressing economic empowerment including universal social pensions and welfare payments should be initiated and maintained to complement the NHIS for older people. The achievement of age-relevant policies and Universal Health Coverage (UCH) as advocated by WHO could be enhanced by adopting some of these suggestions.
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Costin, Graham A. "Skeletal health education : effects of an educational intervention on health behaviour and health behaviour indicators of adolescent girls." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 1998.
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Education provides the critical link between the acquisition of knowledge about the determinants of skeletal health and the availability of that knowledge for application by the wider population. Hence it is one strategy with the capacity to reduce the increasing worldwide incidence of skeletal health problems, in particular osteoporosis. An expanding aged population
requiring increasing care and support for osteoporosis-induced problems and suffering indicates the need for a concerted response incorporating education.
Although osteoporosis is typically associated with old age, the nature of precipitating factors causing bone resorption to exceed that of accretion, and how these factors might be influenced to alter such outcomes are incompletely understood. However, there is increasing evidence, largely from cross-sectional studies, showing that environmental factors such as physical activity and nutrition play a significant role in optimising the genetic potential for the development of peak bone mass.
There is also growing speculation that interventions which promote these factors during childhood and adolescence may increase peak bone mass, thus delaying the development of porotic bone. Al though the optimal dose levels for maximising the effects of these factors have yet to be established, there is sufficient evidence to support the manipulation of these factors to enhance bone accumulation.
Therefore, the general aim of this thesis was to examine the effects of a skeletal health educational intervention
on bone-enhancing lifestyle practices of adolescent girls.
A definite association between skeletal health education and the adoption of lifestyle practices regarded as beneficial to bone growth and development had not been established in the literature. Therefore, the project needed to develop an original educational intervention program focused on these practices, prior to implementation and evaluation. Based on Social Cognitive Theory and current health education practice, this program emphasised the adoption of specific health behaviours and the outcomes, therefore, in addition to the intervention outcomes, the implementation process was assessed.
Responses to this process were obtained from the adolescent girl participants and the teacher-observers using questionnaires and focus group discussions. The respondents found the program and its application very effective and beneficial. The effect of educational interventions on related interaction between mother /daughter couples who participate in the interventions together has not been established in the literature. Therefore, a small group of mothers and their adolescent daughters participated in a separate implementation of the program.
Over the subsequent four weeks, they recorded the nature and frequency of interactions which related to the skeletal health program. This study revealed that joint participation in the program resulted in several forms of cooperative interaction. Although this involved moderate levels of active interaction in physical activity and food organization sessions, the dominant areas were verbal communication and shared eating experiences at meal times.
In summary, health behaviours were maintained at or above
recommended levels during the intervention and over the
subsequent six months. Knowledge and body image satisfaction were the only health behaviour indicators which increased significantly during the intervention and this increase was largely retained six months later. From a curriculum evaluation perspective, the positive results for both the process and outcome measures of the intervention supported its utility.
The substantial amount of mother/daughter interaction resulting from their joint participation in the intervention indicates the potential of this such initiatives to enhance educational outcomes,development of the knowledge, attitude, belief and skill indicators of these behaviours.
The program was implemented in seven weekly sessions of 45 minutes to 13 year old adolescent girls in two similar girls catholic colleges. The intervention group of 97 girls from three year 8 classes at one college represented the total cohort of that age group. The comparison group comprised one year 8 class of 32 girls from the second
college. Data on the health behaviour and health behaviour
indicators were collected from this convenience sample of 129 adolescent girls using a pre-test/post-test/follow-up design.
An examination of results from qualitative and quantitative data revealed differential intervention impacts. No significant intervention effects (P < 0.05) were found for the important bone influencing behaviours of calcium intake, physical activity participation, alcohol consumption, cigarette use and caffeine intake. However, the girls commenced the study with calcium intake and physical activity participation at or above recommended levels, and extremely low drug usage. This pattern of behaviour was maintained throughout the study. The health behaviour indicator results revealed that the intervention girls acquired significantly more skeletal health knowledge than their comparison group (P < 0.001) and that this
knowledge was largely retained over the following six months.
This finding suggests that the intervention was very effective in establishing knowledge needed as a foundation for any further skeletal health initiatives. Body image satisfaction also increased significantly (P < 0.05) and much of this increase was retained six months later. However, when an importance dimension was added to this measure of satisfaction, the significant, between-group difference was not sustained. Self-efficacy for physical activity and for sensible eating did not show significant between-group differences. Similarly changes in the
expected outcomes and perceived barriers for these behaviours did not vary significantly between the two groups of girls.
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Chater, Angel Marie. "Children's health perception and health behaviour : an intervention approach." Thesis, University of Roehampton, 2006. https://pure.roehampton.ac.uk/portal/en/studentthesis/children’s-health-perception-and-health-behaviour(a06c6553-ed09-4a4c-acbe-b30c865d9292).html.
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The principal aim of this two-study research programme was to investigate the contribution of psychological factors to health behaviours in children, and the intention to perform them. The investigation focused on healthy eating, regular physical activity, avoiding smoking cigarettes and avoiding drinking alcohol. The first study examined children’s individual cognitions, past behaviour and perception of their own and their parents’ health behaviours. Drawing from Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (Ajzen, 1985), the aim of study 1 was to investigate the extent to which these psychological factors could predict children’s future intentions towards the above behaviours. The second study aimed to identify if a child’s behavioural intention was a significant predictor of their actual health behaviour. Furthermore, it aimed to develop and run a series of theoretically based intervention workshops drawing from Prospect Theory (Kahneman & Tversky, 1979; 1982) and the Health Action Process Approach (Schwarzer, 1992) to promote health behaviours. A cross-sectional quantitative survey design was used in the first study. Data was collected from 529 school-aged children within year groups 7 (11-12 years) and 10 (14-15 years) using an instrument specifically designed for this research, named the ‘Health Perceptions Questionnaire’. The second study employed an experimental repeated measures 2x3 factorial design. With a sub-sample of study 1 (N = 72) it investigated interactions between pre and post intentions and behaviours, and the possible effects of two framed interventions compared to a control condition. Results from study 1 indicate that the most significant predictors of health behaviour intention are behavioural importance, past behaviour, behaviour-specific self-efficacy, attitude and outcome expectancies. Many of the study variables were found to differ between year group and gender. Study 2 revealed there were no significant differences in behavioural intentions between groups post-intervention. Moreover, a limited effect was observed in health behaviour performance with a significant interaction only found between intervention conditions in healthy eating behaviours. Significant differences were found between healthy eating and regular exercise behaviours from time 1 to time 2 of the research programme. Furthermore, behavioural intentions were found to be significant predictors of health behaviours.
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Kobayashi, L. C. "Health literacy during ageing and implications for health behaviour." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2016. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1474917/.
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Ageing involves rising challenges for health and well-being. At the same time, older age has been associated with having low health literacy. Health literacy is essential for comprehension of the complex information that older adults need to make health decisions. Health literacy and its health behavioural outcomes during ageing have never been examined longitudinally. This thesis reviews the literature and uses data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing to address these gaps. Study 1, a systematic review and meta-analysis, shows that health literacy skills based on active learning may decline with age, while vocabulary-based skills are stable with age. Study 2 shows that health literacy declines in about one-fifth of English adults aged over 50 years, and that cognitive function and decline mostly explain ageing-related health literacy decline. Men, ethnic minorities, and adults with no education and in low occupational classes are the most vulnerable to losing health literacy during ageing. Study 3 demonstrates that sustained Internet use and engagement in social activities may help to prevent ageing-related health literacy decline, independently of cognitive decline. Study 4 shows that low health literacy is a barrier to participation in colorectal cancer screening, an effect mostly explained by cognitive function around the time of screening. Study 5 explores the relationships between health literacy and health behaviours over eight years, finding that health literacy may help to promote sustained regular physical activity during ageing, independently of cognitive function and physical health. Results demonstrate that health literacy is sensitive to ageing, and that cognitive function and decline play a significant role in health literacy performance at older ages. Health literacy appears to be a resource that is maintained during ageing by socially advantaged adults through specific social practices, and they use it to improve and protect their health. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.
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Presseau, Justin. "Goal conflict and goal facilitation : theory development and application in preventive health-related behaviour and health professional behaviour." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2011. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.540459.
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Daily life often involves the pursuit of numerous goal-directed behaviours (GDBs) which can compete for limited resources, leading to goal conflict, and complement each other, leading to goal facilitation. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) has been applied to understand preventive health-related behaviour and health professional behaviour, focusing on a single GDB at a time. This thesis presents six studies which investigated how goal facilitation and goal conflict contribute to understanding individual’s engagement in PA and health professionals’ provision of PA advice, alongside the TPB. Theory-based semi-structured interviews conducted with general medical practitioners and community-based adults demonstrated that GDBs facilitating and conflicting with providing PA advice and engaging in PA are readily identifiable and elicited independently of control beliefs. A prospective study with students demonstrated that goal facilitation predicted self-reported PA two months later, controlling for intention and perceived behavioural control (PBC). A second prospective study with students showed that baseline perceived goal facilitation and daily time spent in conflicting GDBs (assessed using daily diaries) predicted seven days of accelerometer-assessed PA, controlling for intention and PBC. A theory-based process evaluation was conducted alongside a new pay-for-performance target for providing lifestyle advice introduced in primary care. While no changes were observed on goal conflict, goal facilitation, or TPB constructs, the study demonstrated a potentially useful method for conducting theory-based process evaluation alongside natural experiments. A prospective study with GPs and nurses showed that goal facilitation and conflict predicted providing PA advice six months later, controlling for intention and PBC. Overall, this thesis supports the consideration of goal facilitation and goal conflict when predicting preventive health-related and health professional behaviour.
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Gherbrehiwet, Tesfamicael. "Lay logic : health conceptions, perceived health status , health locus of control, health value and health behaviour of Eritrean immigrants." Thesis, University of Southampton, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.294691.
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Cohen, Bonnie Lynn. "Health behaviour survey of secondary school students." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape4/PQDD_0024/MQ51056.pdf.
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Hart, Jo. "Health behaviour advice : cognitive and educational influences." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2006. http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk/R?func=search-advanced-go&find_code1=WSN&request1=AAIU203981.
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A systematic review showed that the four most common health behaviours studied are smoking, drinking alcohol, diet and exercise. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) was adopted as a framework for investigating the use of HBA, and use of a methodology called Discriminant Content Validity enabled the validation of a direct estimation method of assessing TPB cognitions, which was then used in each of the following studies. A cross-sectional study with students at two British medical schools, of their intention to give HBA, demonstrated that TPB cognitions successfully predicted intention, as well as allowing comparison between the constructs. Medical students in the early stages of their training had lower perceived behavioural control. An experimental study of the effect of manipulating two types of control on intention to give HBA found that higher actual control over a consultation situation increased intention and that higher personal control was also associated with higher intention. A longitudinal study of medical students during the first phase of their training showed that students displayed a pattern of polarisation, those who had initially negative beliefs became more negative over time, whilst those initially positive became more so. An observational study in a primary care setting (community pharmacy) provided more evidence for the success of the TPB in predicting HBA. Both self-report and actual advice giving behaviour were predicted by TPB constructs. A range of different methodologies and settings have been utilised to demonstrate that the TPB has an important role in predicting whether HBA is given or not, and further studies might utilise these findings to increase rates of HBA both directly and through medical education.
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Morris, Benjamin Jacob. "Affective and cognitive influences on health behaviour using the theory of planned behaviour." Thesis, University of Leeds, 2011. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.578650.
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Affect is a term used to embrace the experience of emotions and feelings often contrasted, yet not entirely distinct from, conative and cognitive experience. Prominent social cognition models propose that behaviour is as a result of a deliberative process (Theory of Planned Behaviour, Ajzen, 1991; Health Belief Model, Becker, 1974). The extent to which affect, a rich and compelling source of information, is used in guiding cognitive processing or indeed having direct effects on behaviour, when making decisions of health and risk could be better understood. There is a wealth of correlational evidence beginning to indicate such a role for affect, distinct from and as a mediator of cognitive information processing. However, the often complex nature of this relationship has not been fully assessed experimentally. A series of studies assessed the impact of affective-based and cognitive-based messages in changing physical activity (PA) and binge drinking (BD). In studies 1A and 1 B the impact of affective and cognitive messages in changing PA was assessed (with one comparing images and another not comparing images). Studies 2A and 2B assessed the impact of affective and cognitive messages, framed in terms of proximal or distal consequences. One used messages focusing upon the positive consequences of engaging in PA, whereas the other used messages that focused upon the negative consequences of engaging in BD. Messages focusing upon the affective consequences of PA are shown to enhance levels of PA (studies 1A &1 B) and in study 2A the affective-based message functioned better when framed in terms of the short term consequences of behaviour. Additionally individuals high in need for affect (NfA) are shown to increase their levels of PA more so following an affective message in study 1 B. Studies 3 and 4 compared the effect of affective and cognitive messages in changing PA when behaviour is measured objectively. In study 3 messages were delivered via mobile phone, whereas in study 4 messages were delivered as in previous studies, with the addition of a self-affirmation induction. In study 3, individuals high in NfA responded most positively to. the affective- based message for total walking and total walking and running. In study 4, there were no significant differences between message types. Study 5 compared affective proximally valenced and affective distally valenced messages preceded by a self- affirmation seed, in reducing BD. For individuals high in need for cognition (NfC) an affective message was shown to increase BD and total alcohol units. Thus the broad findings of the present work indicate the value of affective messages in changing PA and BD, a number of specific issues are discussed in order to explain certain anomalous findings, and stress the potential difficulties in using affective messages to change behaviour
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Andersson, Per. "Predicting Health Behaviour – Population-Based Studies of Knowledge and Behaviour Related to Cardiovascular Diseases." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala : Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-7200.
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Pálsdóttir, Ágústa. "Health and lifestyle : Icelanders ̕everyday life information behaviour /." Åbo : Åbo Akad. Förl. [u.a.], 2005. http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/fy0611/2006402076.html.
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Ahmad, Raheelah. "Explaining antenatal health seeking behaviour : a sensemaking perspective." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2010. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.516500.
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Schooling, Catherine Mary. "Health behaviour in a social and temporal context." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2001. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1350107/.
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Smoking, alcohol consumption, diet and exercise are sources of risk for many chronic diseases and the need to change unhealthy behaviours is now a key aspect of health promotion policies. Interventions to change adult behaviours have been unsuccessful despite, or perhaps because of, rather dramatic secular changes. Health behaviour is usually understood in terms of three different motivating forces for action, which can be categorised as individual utility, social structure and agency (i.e. engagement in a specific social and temporal context). The first two of these have been relatively well studied. The role of individual utility has been explored using a variety of expectancy-value models that relate individual psychological attributes (attitudes, beliefs and suchlike) to health behaviour. The role of social structure has been explored by studying how behaviour varies with economic circumstances (such as income or tenure) and social relationships (such as family and neighbourhood). Less well studied has been the role of agency. This thesis develops Giddens's concept of self-identity and Simmel's ideas on fashion, to provide an operationalisation of agency. The concept of image is used to link the individual's presentation of self and the appearance of an activity, in terms of underlying attributes such as conformity, gender-identity, sociability and asceticism. Considerations of image provide a potential explanation as to why some people might be more attracted to one activity than another. The concept of status seeking is used to explore why some people are motivated to follow new trends more quickly than others. This operationalisation of the role of agency in health behaviour is tested by exploring the relationship between all these potential motivating forces (individual utility, social structure and agency) and the initiation of and change in 4 specific health behaviours (smoking, drinking, diet and exercise), using data from the 1946 national birth cohort. The 1946 cohort provides a unique opportunity to explore these relationships because it provides the historical specificity necessary to delineate the changing public image of these health behaviours. It covers a period (1946-1989) during which advice about and the public image of the 4 health behaviours changed considerably, and it has data on the cohort's health habits and self images. Results indicate that people's views of themselves in relation to public images do indeed relate to these 4 health behaviours along with the other motivating forces. Understanding how all these motivating forces operate offers the possibility of predicting future behaviour and designing strategies to promote healthy choices.
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Duncan, Craig. "Health-related behaviour in context : a multilevel approach." Thesis, University of Portsmouth, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.306947.
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Behrendt, Hannah Ariadne. "Experiments on behaviour and decision making in health." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/31524.
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Research in judgement and decision-making has identified numerous ways in which human decisions are likely to be biased, deviating systematically from the behaviour one would expect if humans were fully rational 'Econs', maximizing their utility with perfect self-control. Suboptimal decision-making as a result of these biases imposes large costs on individuals and society. In this thesis I investigate experimentally how decision-making can be improved, focusing on the health domain, where errors ultimately become a matter of life and death. Chapter 1: Providing feedback has been shown to be an effective way to change behaviour across several domains, including energy use and the workplace. However, there is little evidence on the effect of providing feedback in high stakes environments, where people make risky decisions with potentially catastrophic losses. In the first chapter I conduct a field experiment that provides feedback and information in such a context - emergency healthcare. Understanding the drivers of patients' decision-making relating to their demand for healthcare services and how they can be directed to the most appropriate services at any given time is a challenge for health systems across many countries. This trial aimed to reduce avoidable Emergency Department (A&E) attendances by sending a personal feedback letter to people who recently attended an Emergency Department but whose health concerns could have been dealt with elsewhere. Patients were randomly allocated to either receive a follow-up letter with information on alternatives to A&E or no letter (usual care). Overall, I do not find a statistically significant difference between the re-attendance rates of patients who did and did not receive the letters. However, the effect of the intervention interacted significantly with patient age, especially in men. I develop a conceptual framework that explores possible explanations for these heterogeneous effects. Chapter 2: Policy interventions drawing on insights from behavioural sciences are increasingly popular and have been successfully applied across a number of different policy areas. However, little attention has been paid to the extent to which the effects of repeated behavioural interventions are sustained over time. In the second chapter I study this question through a natural field experiment in the English National Health Service (NHS). The intervention consists of changing the salience of waiting time on the clinicians' e-Referral Service (ERS) interface. Waiting longer can negatively affect patients' health gains from receiving treatment, so referring patients to services with shorter waiting times can be of benefit. I find, through a stepped wedge trial, that putting a simple alert against services with high waiting times leads to a 35 percent reduction in the share of referrals to these services. The effect of the intervention is sustained over time and does not vary with prior referral habits. A small, low-cost intervention increasing the salience of waiting time to clinicians has a powerful and sustained effect on the choices of their patients. Chapter 3: Behavioural attitudes toward risk and time, as well as behavioural biases such as present bias, are thought to be important drivers of unhealthy lifestyle choices. While the first two chapters of this thesis take behavioural biases as given, the third chapter makes a first attempt at exploring the possibility of training the mind to alter these attitudes and biases, in particular relating to health-related behaviours, using a randomized controlled experiment. The intervention we consider is a well-known psychological technique called "mindfulness", which is believed to improve self-control and reduce stress. We conduct an experiment with 139 participants, around half of whom receive a four-week mindfulness training, while the other half are asked to watch a four-week series of historical documentaries. We find strong evidence that mindfulness training reduces perceived stress, but only weak evidence of its impact on behavioural traits and health-related behaviours. We do not see that engagement with mindfulness training is correlated with behavioural characteristics such as impulsiveness and impatience. Our findings have significant implications for a new domain of research on training the mind to alter behavioural traits and biases that play important roles in lifestyle.
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Whelan, Maxine E. "Persuasive digital health technologies for lifestyle behaviour change." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2018. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/32507.
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BACKGROUND. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviours such as physical inactivity are global risk factors for chronic disease. Despite this, a substantial proportion of the UK population fail to achieve the recommended levels of physical activity. This may partly be because the health messages presently disseminated are not sufficiently potent to evoke behaviour change. There has been an exponential growth in the availability of digital health technologies within the consumer marketplace. This influx of technology has allowed people to self-monitor a plethora of health indices, such as their physical activity, in real-time. However, changing movement behaviours is difficult and often predicated on the assumption that individuals are willing to change their lifestyles today to reduce the risk of developing disease years or even decades later. One approach that may help overcome this challenge is to present physiological feedback in parallel with physical activity feedback. In combination, this approach may help people to observe the acute health benefits of being more physically active and subsequently translate that insight into a more physically active lifestyle. AIMS. Study One aimed to review existing studies employing fMRI to examine neurological responses to health messages pertaining to physical activity, sedentary behaviour, smoking, diet and alcohol consumption to assess the capacity for fMRI to assist in evaluating health behaviours. Study Two aimed to use fMRI to evaluate physical activity, sedentary behaviour and glucose feedback obtained through wearable digital health technologies and to explore associations between activated brain regions and subsequent changes in behaviour. Study Three aimed to explore engagement of people at risk of type 2 diabetes using digital health technologies to monitor physical activity and glucose levels. METHODS. Study One was a systematic review of published studies investigating health messages relating to physical activity, sedentary behaviour, diet, smoking or alcohol consumption using fMRI. Study Two asked adults aged 30-60 years to undergo fMRI whilst presented personalised feedback on their physical activity, sedentary behaviour and glucose levels, following a 14-day wear protocol of an accelerometer, inclinometer and flash glucose monitor. Study Three was a six-week, three-armed randomised feasibility trial for individuals at moderate-to-high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study used commercially available wearable physical activity (Fitbit Charge 2) and flash glucose (Freestyle Libre) technologies. Group 1 were offered glucose feedback for 4 weeks followed by glucose plus physical activity feedback for 2 weeks (G4GPA2). Group 2 were offered physical activity feedback for 4 weeks followed by glucose plus physical activity feedback for 2 weeks (PA4GPA2). Group 3 were offered glucose plus physical activity feedback for six weeks (GPA6). The primary outcome for the study was engagement, measured objectively by time spent on the Fitbit app, LibreLink app (companion app for the Freestyle Libre) as well as the frequency of scanning the Freestyle Libre and syncing the Fitbit. RESULTS. For Study One, 18 studies were included in the systematic review and of those, 15 examined neurological responses to smoking related health messages. The remaining three studies examined health messages about diet (k=2) and physical activity (k=1). Areas of the prefrontal cortex and amygdala were most commonly activated with increased activation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex predicting subsequent behaviour (e.g. smoking cessation). Study Two identified that presenting people with personalised feedback relating to interstitial glucose levels resulted in significantly more brain activation when compared with feedback on personalised movement behaviours (P < .001). Activations within regions of the prefrontal cortex were significantly greater for glucose feedback compared with feedback on personalised movement behaviours. Activation in the subgyral area was correlated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity at follow-up (r=.392, P=.043). In Study Three, time spent on the LibreLink app significantly reduced for G4GPA2 and GPA6 (week 1: 20.2±20 versus week 6: 9.4±14.6min/day, p=.007) and significantly fewer glucose scans were recorded (week 1: 9.2±5.1 versus week 6: 5.9±3.4 scans/day, p=.016). Similarly, Fitbit app usage significantly reduced (week 1: 7.1±3.8 versus week 6: 3.8±2.9min/day p=.003). The number of Fitbit syncs did not change significantly (week 1: 6.9±7.8 versus week 6: 6.5±10.2 syncs/day, p=.752). CONCLUSIONS. Study One highlighted the fact that thus far the field has focused on examining neurological responses to health messages using fMRI for smoking with important knowledge gaps in the neurological evaluation of health messages for other lifestyle behaviours. The prefrontal cortex and amygdala were most commonly activated in response to health messages. Using fMRI, Study Two was able to contribute to the knowledge gaps identified in Study One, with personalised glucose feedback resulting in a greater neurological response than personalised feedback on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. From this, Study Three found that individuals at risk of developing type 2 diabetes were able to engage with digital health technologies offering real-time feedback on behaviour and physiology, with engagement diminishing over time. Overall, this thesis demonstrates the potential for digital health technologies to play a key role in feedback paradigms relating to chronic disease prevention.
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Flinn, Susan Jane. "Student perceptions of health science teacher interpersonal behaviour." Thesis, Curtin University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1457.
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The major aim of this study was to investigate the use of the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) in health science classrooms in Tasmania, Australia. In the past, the QTI has been used in a number of learning areas. However, it has not been used in the learning area of health science.This study involved 1,471 grade 9 and grade 10 health science students and their teachers in 75 classes. The QTI was used to study student and teacher perceptions of health science teacher interpersonal behaviour.Statistical analyses revealed that the QTI is a valid and reliable instrument for use in health science classrooms. Quantitative results from the QTI were supported by qualitative data including comments from the students and a reflective narrative of the experiences of the researcher as a health science teacher.An investigation into the associations between QTI scales and student attitudinal and cognitive outcomes revealed that all scales of the QTI related to student attitudinal and cognitive outcomes in health science classrooms. It is, however, the scales of Leadership and Helping/Friendly which make the greatest positive influence to student attitudinal and cognitive outcomes.Health science students perceived their teachers as displaying high levels of leadership, helping/friendly and understanding behaviour, and low levels of uncertain, dissatisfied and admonishing behaviour. Teachers generally perceived themselves in a more favourable manner than their students did.The students also perceived the less experienced teachers as less dominant and more oppositional compared to teachers with more experience. Female health science students generally perceived their teachers in a more positive way than male students and male students, in general, have better attitudes to health science lessons.
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Flinn, Susan Jane. "Student perceptions of health science teacher interpersonal behaviour." Curtin University of Technology, Science and Mathematics Education Centre, 2004. http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=15223.
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The major aim of this study was to investigate the use of the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) in health science classrooms in Tasmania, Australia. In the past, the QTI has been used in a number of learning areas. However, it has not been used in the learning area of health science.This study involved 1,471 grade 9 and grade 10 health science students and their teachers in 75 classes. The QTI was used to study student and teacher perceptions of health science teacher interpersonal behaviour.Statistical analyses revealed that the QTI is a valid and reliable instrument for use in health science classrooms. Quantitative results from the QTI were supported by qualitative data including comments from the students and a reflective narrative of the experiences of the researcher as a health science teacher.An investigation into the associations between QTI scales and student attitudinal and cognitive outcomes revealed that all scales of the QTI related to student attitudinal and cognitive outcomes in health science classrooms. It is, however, the scales of Leadership and Helping/Friendly which make the greatest positive influence to student attitudinal and cognitive outcomes.Health science students perceived their teachers as displaying high levels of leadership, helping/friendly and understanding behaviour, and low levels of uncertain, dissatisfied and admonishing behaviour. Teachers generally perceived themselves in a more favourable manner than their students did.The students also perceived the less experienced teachers as less dominant and more oppositional compared to teachers with more experience. Female health science students generally perceived their teachers in a more positive way than male students and male students, in general, have better attitudes to health science lessons.
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Montgomery, Scott Mackay. "The relationship of unemployment with health and health behaviour in young men." Thesis, City University London, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.336792.
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Lengerke, Thomas von. "Health behaviour and health promotion in a public health psychology : theoretical issues and empirical findings /." Frankfurt am Main ; New York : P. Lang, 2001. http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb388201298.
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Hwu, Yueh-Juen. "The concept of health and health behaviour in Chinese people with chronic illness." Thesis, University of Ulster, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.274392.
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Fish, Julie. "Lesbians and health care : a national survey of lesbians' health behaviour and experiences." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2002. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/11768.
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This is the first systematic large-scale study of lesbian health that has been conducted in the U.K. Its purpose is to provide data about lesbians' breast and cervical screening behaviour and experiences of health care. Comparable studies in the U.S.A. suggest that lesbians do not attend for routine screening tests and are less likely, than heterosexual women, to practise breast self examination. A questionnaire (the Lesbians and Health Care Survey) was distributed to 1066 lesbians in the UK. Four follow-up focus groups (n = 30) were used to explore some of the issues arising from the survey. The major quantitative survey findings include: 12 per cent of lesbians have never attended for a cervical smear; 20 per cent have never practised BSE, and only 11 per cent attend for a mammogram every three years. The qualitative survey data were content analysed in order to identify the reasons given by lesbians for their healthcare behaviour. In the follow-up focus groups, breast health is taken as a case study. This thesis contributes to defining a lesbian feminist health agenda by its valuing of lesbians' own perspectives; by providing alternative conceptions of lesbians' health that do not rely on biomedical, disease models; and it locates lesbians' health experiences within a socio-political framework. By providing a range of data about-lesbians' health, the findings may help to inform the understanding of health providers about lesbians' health needs, improve the practice of health care delivery for lesbians and be of value to lesbians in making decisions about their health care behaviour.
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Sund, Erik Reidar. "Geographical and Social Inequalities in Health and Health Behaviour in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study(HUNT)." Doctoral thesis, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Geografisk institutt, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-11283.
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Health and health behaviour varies both socially and geographically and individuals may experience different degrees of health according to their socioeconomic position and where they live. The fact that health varies geographically is usually given two interpretations. It may arise as a consequence of the composition of individuals according to sociodemographic markers. Alternatively, there may be features associated with the context in which they live that explains geographical health variation. Consequently, individuals’ health may be influenced by both individual factors and contextual factors. The overall aim of this thesis is to analyse whether geographical health variation is due to composition or features associated with context. Data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) in the county of Nord-Trøndelag, Norway, and the statistical technique of multilevel modelling were utilised to analyse these relationships at multiple geographical scales and also across non-geographical contexts. The overall finding is that geographical health variation in Nord-Trøndelag is rather small and that place makes little difference to the health of individuals. This applies both to the level of municipalities and wards/neighbourhoods. The importance of the family context was also explored, and it was found that health and health behaviour within families seemed to cluster. There was strong behavioural conformity in terms of smoking habits whereas body mass index was weakly to moderately dependent on the family context. The findings have some clear implications in terms of future disease prevention and health policy. First, targeted area based initiatives towards particular municipalities, or wards, is not warranted in this particular county. It is however difficult to generalise this particular finding across cultures and towards more urban areas, there may be societies where such initiatives may be of importance. Second, there are some clear indications that the family context is important for the health of individuals and this finding should be acknowledged in future research as well as in disease prevention and health policy.
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Ball, Laura. "Aggressive driving behaviour : a forensic psychological perspective." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2018. http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/51887/.
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This thesis provides an investigation into aggressive driving behaviour, from a Forensic Psychological perspective. The methods used include a systematic review, two quantitative research studies, and a psychometric critique. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between a measure of driving anger, the Driving Anger Scale (DAS; Deffenbacher, Oetting & Lynch, 1994), and various aggressive driving outcomes showed a strong positive correlation. However, the validity of this finding is hampered by the extensive use of self-report questionnaires, as opposed to real-world driving behaviours, to measure aggression on the roads. The first empirical research study investigated the relationship between personality characteristics (including driving anger) and aggressive driving outcomes. The results showed that three variables accounted for more than half of the variance in self-reported aggressive driving behaviour. These were a tendency toward physical aggression, the progress impeded aspect of driving anger, and psychopathic tendencies. The findings provide ideas for future research, and intervention to reduce aggressive driving behaviours. The second research study expanded on this, and considered the impact of inattentive responding on outcomes for online surveys, and how these may relate to the driving aggression literature. This was enabled by the discovery that around a third of respondents to a survey failed instructional manipulation checks; inclusion of these participants in analysis obscured the results found in the first study. The findings are discussed in terms of practical implications for researchers. A psychometric critique of the Propensity for Angry Driving Scale (PADS; DePasquale, Geller, Clarke & Littleton, 2001) is also presented. This raised questions about the reliability and validity of the PADS, which will be of interest to researchers considering driving anger and aggression in the future. The findings from each methodology are finally considered together, with a discussion of the implications for the field of aggressive driving research.
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Brogly, Susan. "Behaviour change and HIV infection in Montreal injection drug users." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape9/PQDD_0015/MQ55040.pdf.
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Auld, Matthew Christopher. "Three essays on the economics of health-related behaviour." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape7/PQDD_0003/NQ42936.pdf.
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Møller, Danø Anne. "Empirical studies of individual labour market behaviour and health /." Copenhagen, 2003. http://www.gbv.de/dms/zbw/376810386.pdf.
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Vanasse, Bethany, and Laura Tombrink. "Health Literacy and Behaviour : Why context can trump knowledge." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för samhällsstudier (SS), 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-26974.
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Receiving health information and implementing recommendations are important factors for household development. However, it is not uncommon for people in the developing world to disregard information and not change their behaviour. The objective of this study is to contribute to the understanding of how context and knowledge determine health practices and behaviour in order to provide an explanation for why people do not follow health recommendations that would improve their health and the development of their household. In a field study in the Ribáuè district of Mozambique, an ethnographic approach using semi-structured interviews with individuals on the household level as well as stakeholders from both the public and private sector was used to gather the data. New institutionalist theory and health literacy were applied to structure the findings, analyze the data, and provide an explanation for the phenomenon described above. Conclusions from the study demonstrate that individuals must go through a process of obtaining, understanding, and evaluating health information before implementing recommendations. However, the socio-economic, and cultural circumstances in which a person lives can inhibit this process. Furthermore, regulative, normative, and cultural- cognitive underpinnings have proven to both resist and influence changes in health behaviour.
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Umeh, Frederick K. A. "A conflict-theory approach to understanding adolescents' health behaviour." Thesis, University of Northampton, 1998. http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/2848/.
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The relationship between adolescents’ health decisions and their coping reactions to threat has been the focus of some empirical research. A relevant theoretical perspective is the Conflict-Theory Model (Janis, 1983) which specifies several modes by which people cope with threat, including vigilance (objective appraisals), defensive avoidance (evasion of anxiety) and hypervigilance (panic). Developed to explain adult decision making, Conflict-Theory postulates were applied to health decisions in adolescents, thus extending the model to a new population. Conflict-Theory proposes that coping styles moderate relations between health beliefs and decisions, such that perceptions of threat and response-efficacy better predict health decisions in persons high on vigilance, or low on defensive avoidance or hypervigilance. These postulates were tested in a large-scale cross-sectional survey (Umeh, in press). The study involved 885 adolescents (aged 13-17 years) and focused on several important health behaviours (substance use, regular exercise, dietary fat consumption, unsafe sex). There was little evidence that dispositional coping styles moderate relations between health beliefs and decisions. Beliefs about the efficacy of using protection during sexual intercourse predicted intentions to have unprotected sex as a function of vigilance. However, the pattern of this moderator effect contradicted Conflict- Theory postulates: efficacy beliefs better predicted intentions in participants low on vigilance. There was no evidence that relations between health beliefs and decision are affected by levels of defensive avoidance or hypervigilance. Each coping style predicted intentions to exercise regularly and (vigilance only) have unprotected sex, independent of health beliefs. Conflict-Theory also proposes that high levels of vigilance relate to low levels of health risk-taking, whereas high levels of defensive avoidance and hypervigilance relate to high levels of health risk-taking. These postulates were tested in a secondary survey focusing on cigarette use (using a subsample of 104 participants from the main study). Coping patterns were associated with health risk-taking in accordance with Conflict-Theory. Overall, there was no evidence that the proposed role of coping styles in belief-decision relations apply to adolescents. However, there was some evidence for vigilance as a moderator, and coping styles as predictors of decisions irrespective of health beliefs. Coping also relates to health risk-taking. Overall, the importance of Conflict-Theory coping styles in adolescents’ health decisions, whether as moderator or predictor variables, varies across coping constructs and health behaviours
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Lluberas, Rodrigo. "Essays on consumption behaviour related to health and retirement." Thesis, University of London, 2013. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.603509.
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This dissertation is concerned with the empirical study of households' decisions on consumption and time use over the life-cycle. The first chapter presents evidence on the role of shocks around the time of retirement as a potential explanation of the retirement consumption puzzle. We address this issue by studying how expenditure of households in different quartiles of the pre-retirement wealth distribution behaves around the time of retirement and how th is is related to health shocks. In the next chapter wc focus on consumption over the life-cycle and show how different consumption patterns between workers aud pensioners translates into different iuflation experiences. We first document the expenditure life-cycle profile in the VK and show how differences in the consumption bundle of pem;ioners and workers translates into different inflation experiences. In the second part of the chapter we estimate cost of living; indexes for pensioners and workers in order to better understand pension income requirements . We estimate a demand system and compute the change in the cost ofiiving and the substitution effect for both pensioners and workers for the period 1990-2009. The last chapter focuses on household decisions related to food consumption and the use of time. Using a combination of food diary data and information on its nutritional content, we compile a unique time series of microdata on calorie and food purchases ill England spanning over more than 30 years. We measure calories from food at home purchases over the whole time series, but using a combination of observed and imputed data, are also able to fill the gap of knowledge about calories from other foods and drinks: eating out and alcohol. In addition to this, we also show data on bodyweight, calorie purchases and calories expended in different activities. 3
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Kamal, Noreen. "Designing online social networks to motivate health behaviour change." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/45242.
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Eating nutritious foods and being more physically active prevents significant illnesses such as cardiac disease, stroke, and diabetes. However, leading a healthy lifestyle remains elusive and obesity continues to increase in North America. We investigate how online social networks (OSN) can change health behaviour by blending theories from health behaviour and participation in OSNs, which allow us to design and evaluate an OSN through a user-centred design (UCD) process.
We begin this research by reviewing existing theoretical models to obtain the determining factors for participation in OSNs and changing personal health behaviour. Through this review, we develop a conceptual framework, Appeal Belonging Commitment (ABC) Framework, which provides individual determinants (Appeal), social determinants (Belonging), and temporal consideration (Commitment) for participation in OSNs for health behaviour change.
The ABC Framework is used in a UCD process to develop an OSN called VivoSpace. The framework is then utilized to evaluate each design to determine if VivoSpace is able to change the determinants for health behaviour change. The UCD process begins with an initial user inquiry using questionnaires to validate the determinants from the framework (n=104). These results are used to develop a paper prototype of VivoSpace, which is evaluated through interviews (N=11). These results are used to design a medium fidelity prototype for VivoSpace, which is tested in a laboratory through both direct and indirect methods (n=36).
The final iteration of VivoSpace is a high fidelity prototype, which is evaluated in a field experiment with clinical and non-clinical participants from Canada and USA (n=32). The results reveal positive changes for the participants associated with a clinic in self-efficacy for eating healthy food and leading an active lifestyle, attitudes towards healthy behaviour, and in the stages of change for health behaviour. These results are further validated by evaluating changes in health behaviour, which reveal a positive change for the clinical group in physical activity and an increase in patient activation. The evaluation of the high fidelity prototype allow for a final iteration of the ABC Framework, and the development of design principles for an OSN for positive health behaviour change.
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Oakland, Susan. "Stress, coping behaviour and health : a study of headteachers." Thesis, University of Bradford, 1991. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.317004.
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Almond, Stephen. "GP consultation and prescribing behaviour : a health econometric approach." Thesis, University of Kent, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.242942.
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Gray-Burrows, Kara Ayesha. "The relationship between executive control, conscientiousness and health behaviour." Thesis, University of Leeds, 2014. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/8001/.
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Health is important, but the health of the nation is failing, with chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes on the rise. Most of which are related to the performance of negative health behaviours. As a result, improving the health of the population through the promotion of positive health behaviours is a key aim of health professionals and Government. However, to promote positive health behaviours, first, what variables predict health behaviour must be identified. Two prominent variables of interest are cognition and personality. Recently, attention has focussed on executive control (EC) and conscientiousness as predictors of health behaviour. As such, a number of questions have emerged. Firstly, due to the conceptual overlap of these variables, are they related constructs? Secondly, do they have a direct impact on health behaviour? Finally, are they moderating variables, and do they moderate the intention-behaviour relationship? The aim of this PhD was to explore the relations between EC, conscientiousness and multiple health behaviours in healthy samples. Over four studies, participants completed an array of computer, and paper and pencil-based tasks and computer-administered questionnaires. In addition, behavioural intentions and health behaviour performance was measured over a period of 7-14 days using online daily diaries. Using multilevel modelling analysis, three main findings emerged. First, the relationship between EC and conscientiousness is dependent on the measures used. Second, some EC and conscientiousness measures have direct effects on health behaviour; and third, some EC and conscientiousness measures have indirect effects on health behaviour via moderation of the intention-behaviour relationship. The findings highlight EC and conscientiousness are significantly related to health behaviour performance, though the relationships are more complex than shown by previous research. As such, the current findings serve to highlight issues of construct complexity, ecological validity, sample diversity and measurement.
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Strömmer, Sofia. "Exercise motives and gains : implications for health behaviour change." Thesis, Bangor University, 2016. https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/exercise-motives-and-gains-implications-for-health-behaviour-change(63e2a3a2-4656-4766-8808-de1e3abfae76).html.
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The role of motives (what people want) has become a cornerstone of exercise participation research. The role of gains (what people get from exercise), on the other hand, has been largely overlooked. The aim of this thesis was to examine the nature and role of gains in exercise behaviour. In Chapter 2, people’s personal experiences of exercise were qualitatively explored, particularly with regard to their motives and what they did or did not gain from it. Primarily active participants described a multiplicity of motives and gains that were experiential, and positive past experiences, whereas primarily inactive participants described a narrow range of motives and gains that were instrumental, and negative past experiences. Accounts suggested that gains themselves are motivating and people naturally appreciate them. In Chapter 3, a measure of exercise gains was developed to complement an existing measure of motives. The exercise motives and gains inventory (EMGI) was used to quantitatively assess gains and their relationship with motives. In Chapter 4, the concept of gains was applied to an intervention. The measure developed in study 1 was utilised as a means to reflect on gains. No significant effects of the intervention were found, but autonomous motivation increased significantly in both groups. Suggestions are made for future research and efforts in implementing gains in supporting autonomous motivation. The work presented in this thesis demonstrates that gains can be measured, that gains are distinguished from motives, that people are aware of them, and that gains have the potential to shape exercise experiences and habits. Gains currently have potential uses through being incorporated into existing means of supporting health behaviour change, such as motivational interviewing.
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Bartlett, Yvonne Kiera. "Combining persuasive technology and behaviour change techniques to support health behaviour change in people with COPD." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2015. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/7821/.
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Background: Persuasive technology is a term used to describe ‘any interactive computing system designed to change people’s attitudes or behaviours’ (Fogg, 2003, p.1). This thesis seeks to explore how persuasive technology could be combined with behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and used to help people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PwCOPD) to make changes to their health behaviours. Methods: Two systematic reviews with meta-analyses were conducted to identify BCTs associated with effective interventions in this population (Study 1 and 2). A series of mixed-methods, N-of-1 studies were used to assess an existing persuasive technology (a mobile phone app) with PwCOPD (Study 3). And finally, interviews and surveys were used to collect the opinions of key stakeholders towards the use of persuasive technology to increase physical activity in PwCOPD (Study 4). Results: Study 1 identified that self-regulatory BCTs were effective in smoking cessation interventions for PwCOPD. Study 2 identified that intervention components that targeted physical activity delivered as part of a multi-faceted intervention were most effective. Study 3 showed that the mobile phone app was used daily, five of the seven participants increased their mean daily step count, although greater support would be needed to set independent physical activity goals. Study 4 found that there was support for persuasive technology to take a more active role to encourage physical activity. However, incorporating aspects such as competition divided opinion. Discussion: The findings reported illustrate the potential of combining persuasive technology with BCTs to support behaviour changes in PwCOPD. This approach was largely found to be acceptable and strategies to increase both the acceptance, and the utility, of this approach are suggested. Future research should continue to explore how best to use BCTs in conjunction with persuasive technology to support and encourage PwCOPD to makes changes to their health behaviours.
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Wegner, Lisa. "Leisure boredom and risk behaviour in adolescence." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10747.
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Includes bibliographical references (leaves 197-216).There has been very little research investigating leisure boredom and risk behaviour among adolescents in South Africa. The purpose of the research reported in this thesis was to investigate how adolescents experience leisure and boredom in their free time, and how this is associated with risk behaviour - specifically substance use, sexual risk behaviour and premature school leaving (dropout). The thesis comprises five interrelated studies.
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Enwald, H. (Heidi). "Tailoring health communication:the perspective of information users' health information behaviour in relation to their physical health status." Doctoral thesis, Oulun yliopisto, 2013. http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:9789526202792.
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Abstract The aim of this thesis was twofold: firstly, to increase understanding about the user of health information; namely about differences of users´ characteristics of health information behaviour, and secondly, to contribute to the research on factors that could be used as bases to tailor health information. Health information behaviour was scrutinised as information needs and seeking and information use in particular. It was also studied in relation to individuals´ physical health status. More studies on information use are needed, because understanding individual characteristics in issues related to information use has been considered critical for promoting healthy behaviours. Moreover, the thesis addressed the gap in research on the relationship between health information behaviour and tailoring health information. The thesis consists of three empirical studies and a literature review. The empirical research environments were provided by an intervention study aiming to prevent type 2 diabetes among a high risk population and by a population-based study among military conscription aged men. The setting was the City of Oulu in Northern Finland with the University of Oulu and the Oulu Deaconess Institute as the main operators of the studies. The empirical data were collected through questionnaires as well as through physiological and biochemical measurements during years 2010 and 2011. The data were analysed with statistical methods. Moreover, a literature review of tailored interventions studies using a computer as the medium of delivery in the context of physical activity, nutrition and weight management, was conducted. The findings indicate differences in health information users´ characteristics related to their information use as such and in relation to the indicators of their physical health status. It is suggested that, for example, health information presentation could be tailored on the basis of found differences and different message strategies and tactics could be used for different kinds of individuals. In addition, in the literature review the biases of tailored intervention studies stood out as influential on their outcomes. The thesis contributes to the current field of research on both health information behaviour and tailoring health communication. Moreover, the findings can support the development of more effective health promotion programs and intervention studiesTiivistelmä Väitöskirjatutkimukseni tavoitteena on lisätä ymmärrystä terveystiedon käyttäjistä ja erityisesti heidän terveysinformaatiokäyttäytymiseensä liittyvistä ominaisuuksista. Tutkimukseni tuottaa tietoa tekijöistä, joita voidaan käyttää terveystiedon räätälöinnin lähtökohtana. Terveysinformaatiokäyttäytymistä tarkastelen tiedontarpeiden ja -hankinnan sekä erityisesti tiedon käytön näkökulmasta. Informaatiokäyttäytymistä tutkitaan myös suhteessa tiedon käyttäjän fyysiseen terveydentilaan. Tutkimukseni vastaa tarpeeseen tutkia tiedon käyttäjiä, sillä tiedon käyttöön liittyvien yksilöllisten ominaisuuksien ymmärtäminen on keskeistä terveyden edistämisessä. Väitöskirja tuottaa uutta tietoa myös informaatiokäyttäytymisen ja terveystiedon räätälöinnin välisestä suhteesta. Väitöskirjani käsittää neljä osajulkaisua: kolme empiiristä tutkimusta ja kirjallisuuskatsauksen. Empiiriset tutkimukset toteutettiin tyypin 2 diabeteksen ehkäisyyn tähtäävän interventiotutkimuksen (PreDiabEx) ja väestöpohjaisen tutkimuksen (MOPO) tarjoamissa tutkimusympäristöissä. Tutkimusten kohteina olivat miehet ja naiset, joiden riski sairastua tyypin 2 diabetekseen oli korkea sekä kutsuntaikäiset miehet. Tutkimukset toteutettiin Oulussa ja päätoteuttajia olivat Oulun yliopisto ja Oulun Diakonissalaitos. Empiirinen aineisto kerättiin kyselyillä sekä fysiologisilla ja biokemiallisilla terveydentilaa ilmaisevilla mittareilla vuosien 2010 ja 2011 aikana. Aineisto analysoitiin tilastollisesti. Kirjallisuuskatsauksessa analysoidaan fyysisen aktiivisuuden, ravitsemuksen ja painonhallinnan interventiotutkimuksia, joissa tarkastellaan terveystiedon räätälöinnin vaikuttavuutta silloin, kun tiedonvälitykseen käytetään tietokonetta. Empiiristen tutkimusten tulokset viittaavat siihen, että niin terveystiedonkäyttäjien ominaisuuksissa informaatiokäyttäytymisessä kuin sen suhteessa heidän fyysisen terveydentilaansa on eroja. Terveystietoa tulisikin esittää eri tavoin erilaisille ihmisille, muun muassa erilaisia viestistrategioita ja -taktiikoita käyttäen. Kirjallisuuskatsauksen tulokset lisäsivät ymmärrystä siitä, miten tutkimusasetelman vinoumat voivat vaikuttaa interventiotutkimusten tuloksiin
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Waterkeyn, Juliet Anne Virginia. "Cost-effective health promotion and hygiene behaviour change through community health clubs in Zimbabwe." Thesis, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (University of London), 2006. http://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/682348/.
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Although safe sanitation and hygiene is critical for improving family health, rural communities in Sub Saharan Africa have shown little inclination to change their traditional behaviour, and sanitation coverage has now dropped to 47% (Cairncross 2003). With the Millennium Development Goals seeking to halve the 2.4 billion people without sanitation by the year 2015, there is an urgent need to find cost-effective health promotion strategies that will actively engage rural householders in modifying risky hygiene behaviour. This thesis evaluates an approach, developed over the past ten years in Zimbabwe, in which Community Health Clubs have successfully galvanised rural communities into active behaviour change leading to a strong demand for sanitation. In Tsholotsho District, after six months of weekly hygiene promotion sessions, at the cost of US 35c per beneficiary, good health knowledge of nine different topics was 47% higher in the intervention than for the control, and latrine coverage rose to 43% contrasted to 2% in the control area, with the remaining 57% members without latrines practicing faecal burial, a method previously unknown (p>0.0001). Spot observations of 736 Health Club households in two districts was contrasted to 172 in a control group, and showed highly significant changes in 17 key hygiene practices (p>0.0001) including hand washing. The study demonstrates that if a strong community structure is developed and the norms of a community are altered by peer pressure from a cyclical to linear world view, hygiene behaviour change will ensue and a demand for sanitation can be created. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (1954) is adapted to a rural context to analyse the qualitative data, providing some insight into the socio-cultural mechanisms at work. Despite adverse socio-economic conditions in Zimbabwe over the past five years, Health Clubs have flourished, providing a sustainable and cost-effective case study.
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Eriksson-Backa, Kristina. "In sickness and in health : how information and knowledge are related to health behaviour /." Åbo : Åbo Akademis Förlag / Åbo akademi university press, 2003. http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb393008904.
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Davison, Jenny. "An investigation into the factors influencing toothbrushing behaviour amongst schoolchildren: an application of the theory of planned behaviour." Thesis, Ulster University, 2014. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.650086.
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Northern Ireland (NI) has the poorest levels of oral health in the United Kingdom (UK) with its children having the highest levels of tooth decay in Europe (Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; DHSSPS, 2007). The Oral Health Strategy for Northern Ireland (DHSSPS, 2007) emphasises the need to address these problems, yet there is a lack of research investigating the determinants of young people's toothbrushing behaviour. This study sought to address this research gap by investigating young peoples attitudes and motivations for brushing their teeth. To achieve this aim a mixed-methods sequential research design was employed, with the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) providing the theoretical framework for each of the research stages. In stage one, an elicitation study adopting focus group methodology was conducted to elicit the modal salient beliefs of the target behaviour. These beliefs were then used to inform the development of items contained within the TPB questionnaire. In stage two, the research sought to confirm suitability of the questionnaire measure for use with the target group, schoolchildren aged 9-10 years. Test-retest methodology was employed to explore the psychometric properties of each scale. In stage three, the study investigated the theoretical factors influencing toothbrushing intentions and behaviour among 867 schoolchildren. Participation in the research study was recruited using randomised and stratified sampling techniques. Overall, the findings provide support for the theoretical model of the TPB and highlight the key theoretical constructs in predicting intentions to brush teeth among schoolchildren, namely self-efficacy, attitude and subjective norm. They have also elucidated the relative importance of the factors that are influential in affecting childrens motivations and decisions to brush their teeth. Furthermore, the study has highlighted the important contribution of other variables affecting childrens toothbrushing behaviour such as, various risk factors can impinge upon their toothbrushing routine, including tiredness, laziness, memory and issues related to resources (e.g. types of toothpaste and texture of toothbrush). This study undoubtedly provides support for the theoretical model of the TPB. The questionnaire measure was found to be a valid and reliable instrument for assessing toothbrushing beliefs of schoolchildren, suggesting that the theory is applicable for use with a child population. The findings from this study could be of use to those interested in designing interventions to reduce Nl's oral health problem and given the theoretical framework, identify those factors which influence toothbrushing behaviour amongst a particularly at-risk group. It is hoped that the research will make a valid contribution to the TPB-based literature and also serve as a possible framework for other health psychologists interested in this topic.
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Wakefield, John Gregory Public Health & Community Medicine Faculty of Medicine UNSW. "Patient safety: factors that influence patient safety behaviours of health care workers in the Queensland public health system." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. Public Health & Community Medicine, 2009. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/44598.
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ABSTRACT Objectives: To develop and validate in an Australian setting, an instrument to effectively measure patient safety culture; to survey health care workers (HCWs) in a large public healthcare system to establish baseline patient safety culture; and, using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), to use behavioural modelling to identify the factors that predict and influence Patient Safety Behavioural Intent (PSBI) Eg. Reporting clinical incidents and speaking up when a colleague makes an error. Design: Cross sectional survey analysed with multiple logistic regression (MLR). Setting: Metropolitan, regional and rural public hospitals in Queensland, Australia. Participants: 5294 clinical and managerial staff. Main outcome measures: 1) Behavioural models for high-level Patient Safety Behavioural Intent (PSBI) for senior and junior doctors, senior and junior nurses, and allied health professionals. 2) Odds ratios to compare levels of PSBI between professional groups. Results: 1) The factors that influence high-level PSBI for each professional group give rise to unique predictive models. Two factors stand out as influencing high-level PSBI for all HCWs (R2 0.21). These are: i) Preventive Action Beliefs (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 2.38) (HCWs??? belief that engaging in the target behaviour(s) will lead to improved patient safety) and ii) Professional Peer Behaviour (AOR 1.79) (HCWs??? perceptions of the safety behaviour(s) of one???s professional peers). 2) There was a six-fold difference in the level of target behaviour (PSBI) across the clinical groups with few (29.6%) junior doctors having a high-level of PSBI. When compared with the junior doctors, the senior doctors were nearly 1.5 times more likely (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.46, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.01-2.13), allied health staff 2.7 times more likely (OR 2.71, 95%CI 1.91-3.73), junior nurses 3.9 times more likely (OR 3.86, 95%CI 2.83-5.26), and senior nurses 6.0 times more likely (OR 6.01, 95%CI 4.78-9.16) to have high-level PSBI. Conclusions: This is the first published study to develop behavioural models of factors that influence HCWs??? intention to engage in behaviours known to be associated with improved patient safety. The findings of this study will greatly assist in the future design and implementation of targeted and cost-effective patient safety improvement initiatives.