I’m working on a public health question and need guidance to help me learn.

Health Behavior change

Do you agree or disagree with this statement about health behavior: “Knowledge is enough to change behavior”? Why do you agree or disagree?

What makes it difficult for individuals to change their health behaviors?

As a future community educator, how can you help others in their efforts to change health behaviors?

1. Scenario for the next few questions:
2. Your group is organizing a campaign to raise awareness of heart disease risk factors. Individuals at what stage of change might be most impacted by efforts to raise awareness?
3. Jan is 55 and has never had a mammogram (the American Cancer Society recommends breast cancer screening starting at age 45). She has access to free screening but does not have health insurance. She does not have a family history of breast cancer. If your group was planning an intervention aiming to get women like Jan to have a mammogram, what component(s) of the health belief model might shape your approach?
4. Considering Jan’s situation, how might your approach change if Jan had a family history of breast cancer?

Considering Jan’s situation, what kind of community-level supports might help address some barriers to getting a mammogram?

1. Which model or theory (social ecological model, health belief model, or stages of change) made the most sense to you? Why? 

Resources to help you.

1. https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/theory.pdf
2. https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/research/constructs
3. https://extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/HHS/HHS-792-W.pdf