Behaviour Change Assignment and Presentation: Health Belief Model

Health Belief Model is the model that I will use to address behavior change of my client. The Health Belief Model is used in explanation and prediction of health behaviors. The model works by focusing on individuals beliefs and attitudes. The model is one of the most widely used conceptual frameworks in an understanding of human behavior. The model promotes behaviors that have a positive impact on individuals health. The model is based on the fact that an individual will partake in an action that is health related if he or she feels that a negative health condition will be avoided by the action. An individual will also partake in an action if he or she is optimistic that the action will avoid an occurrence of a negative health condition. The Health Belief Model is also based on the fact that an individual will partake in a health related action if he or she believes that he can successfully take part in the recommended action. The model is used to motivate individuals to take part in actions that have positive impacts on their health to avoid negative health outcomes. For instance, a threat of a heart attack can motivate individuals who have hypertension to exercise more frequently. Avoidance of negative health repercussions is one of the key elements of the health belief model. Components of the Health Belief Model include perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers and cues to action. Perceived susceptibility refers to a person's perception of a risk of contracting a certain health condition. Perceived severity refers to an individuals perception of the seriousness of a health condition if the condition goes untreated. Perceived benefits refer to a belief that taking a certain action will improve an individuals health condition. Perceived barriers refer to impediments that are likely to deter an individual from taking an action that will improve their health. Cues to action refer to environmental or body events that may trigger the Health Belief Model. The Health Belief Model often gives individuals the confidence to continue healthy behaviors to overcome temptations and achieve self- efficacy. The model is important in preventive healthcare practices.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

Clients history

The client is 56-year-old, male and married. He has four children and is morbidly obese. The client was diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus type 2, ten years ago. Two of the clients children are also diabetic. The client is well educated and gainfully employed in our local town council. He rarely exercises, he lives a sedentary lifestyle. The client is a smoker; he smokes one packet of cigarettes in a day. Given that the client is educated, he follows his treatment regimen very well. The clients blood sugar levels are by the foremost part controlled via medication. However, his average plasma glucose concentration (HBA1C) isnt always at an optimal level.

I am confident that application of the Health Belief Model will ensure the client loses weight, becomes physically active and quits smoking. Significant improvements in the clients three life areas would support my theory that the Health Belief Model can be an effective tool when it comes to orchestrating positive behavioral changes.

Discussion

The Health Belief Model can be used to design short term and long term health programs. I implemented the Health Belief Model by gathering information from my case study to determine health risks associated with my client. I established that the client suffers from psoriasis and diabetes. I established that my client is susceptible to cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, depression, osteoporosis and lipid disorders due to his sedentary lifestyle.

Smoking makes a person susceptible to lung cancer. Given that my client used to smoke at least one packet of cigarette in a day, he was susceptible to lung cancer and other cancers. Smoking of cigarettes also causes colon, pancreatic, liver, stomach and colorectal cancers. Survival rates of an individual with prostate cancer are likely to be reduced courtesy of smoking. Smoking of cigarettes is associated with premature deaths. Smoking cigarettes are likely to lead to a development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smokers are likely to develop heart diseases and stroke. Coronary heart disease is majorly caused by smoking. Smoking can make blood vessels grow narrow, making the heart to beat faster as blood pressure increases. Blood clots can also be formed courtesy of smoking. Stroke in smokers occurs when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Smoking is a risk factor for asthma development. Given that smoking of cigarettes irritates air passages, smoking of cigarettes can spark asthma in smokers. Smoking of cigarettes also aggravates asthma in individuals who already have asthma. Smoking also increases chances of an individual developing type 2-diabetes. Given that the client has type 2-diabetes, there is a high probability that smoking aggravated his condition. I educated my client about benefits of quitting smoking. I told him that quitting smoking will reduce risks of developing cardiovascular problems. Quitting smoking in a single year considerably reduces the ability of an individual having heart attacks. A person who has quit smoking for two to five years has his risk of developing a stroke reduced to the same level as that of a non-smoker. Quitting smoking reduces chances of developing cancers of bladder, throat, esophagus and mouth. Studies have established that quitting smoking reduces chances of an individual developing lung cancer by half. I communicated with the client on necessary steps involved in quitting smoking. I provided assistance to my client in identifying and reducing barriers that would have deterred him from quitting smoking (Koskinen, 2011).

Obesity makes a person more likely to have diabetes, gout, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, breathing problems, gall bladder diseases, stroke and some forms of cancer. Given that my client was obese, I informed him of health problems that he is likely to develop or likely to have developed courtesy of being obese. I educated my client on benefits of not being obese. Losing weight by an obese person can reduce his chances of developing stroke or heart problems. I informed my client that obesity is caused by consumption of foods that have more calories, especially sugary and fatty foods. I beseeched my client to desist from consuming high-calorie foods. I informed my client that his obesity is compounded by his sedentary lifestyle. Obesity makes it difficult for an individual to successfully take part in physical activities. Obesity makes an individual to feel tired most of the time, together with joint and back pains. Obesity increases chances of an individual developing metabolic syndrome, asthma, high cholesterol, several types of cancer, liver diseases, sleep apnea and kidney diseases. Sleep apnea is a disorder manifested by shallow breaths or pauses in breathing while somebody sleeps. Obesity is also associated with depression and lower work achievement. I advised my client to eat healthy foods that have low calories. I also advised my client to desist from his sedentary lifestyle; he nowadays partakes in physical activities such as jogging and walking (Kanosue et al., 2015). (A healthy lifestyle where one consumes a balanced diet together exercising adequately is important in reducing risks of a person developing obesity and its health-related complications.

Physical inactivity has dire negative health effects. I advised my client to be physically active and desist from living a sedentary lifestyle. I gathered information to determine health effects associated with being physically inactive. I conveyed repercussions of being physically inactive to the client. Physical inactivity is a contributor to cardiovascular diseases, obesity, high-blood pressure, diabetes and colon cancer. Physical inactivity can also lead to premature death. A person who does not take part in physical activities is likely to develop gallstones. Depression and anxiety are associated with physical inactivity. I communicated to my client that to cease from being physical inactivity; he should start by taking part in light physical activities followed by intense physical activities. I informed my client about benefits of being physically active. Physical activity reduces risks of developing cardiovascular diseases, reduces the risk of developing cancer, controls weight, improves a persons mental health and strengthens a persons muscles and bones. Physical activity reduces the risk of a person developing type-2 diabetes and also increases chances of an individual living longer (Kanosue et al., 2015).

Outcomes of my case study

My client has quit smoking

My client is no longer obese

My client is physically active

References

Kanosue, K., Oshima, S., Cao, Z.-B., & Oka, K. (2015). Physical activity, exercise, sedentary behavior and health. Tokyo: Springer.

Koskinen, C. J. (2011). Handbook of smoking and health. New York: Nova Science Publishers.