Question

Give three examples of how a health educator would use theory or a model in his/her work. Be sure to use three different theories/models for each example. Be sure to thoroughly answer the question to receive credit. (Examples: Social Cognitive theory, health belief model, and theory of planned behavior)

Answer 1

Three examples for applying the theories/ models for Health education:

A Health educator can use different theories/ models in her work or teaching to promote health and to prevent illness .

1. Health educator can use social cognitive theory in her work. Social cognitive theory is proposed by Albert Bandura and is an interpersonal level theory , that focuses on the dynamic interactions between the environment and the personal factors of an individual and their behaviour. He suggested that people can learn behaviours from media modeling or from the society. Attitudes and behaviours can be changed or triggered by mass media.  

An example: Social learning by modeling behaviour. Real play or role play in the classroom is an example. Role play or drama regarding the ill- egfects of Alcohol in front of a group of Alcoholics , who are in rehabilitation can motivate them to quit the negative behaviour.  

or an advertisement about the importance of hand washing and its steps by a celebrity can influence the observer's behaviour on hand washing .

2. Health belief model ( HBM): In 1950s US public health department proposed Health belief Model to explain the lack of participation of people in health oriented programmes. It is a social psychological health behaviour change model that stated that individual's Health beliefs ( percieved threat to sickness, percieved benefits or barriers to actions ) can influence health behaviours.

An example: A Health educator assess a group of ' teenage girls' Attitude towards Breast Self Examination ( BSE) and knowledge regarding breast cancer. Then she provides the extensive health education on Breast cancer , its causes , prevention, consequences and the importance of BSE. With Education many of the audience Health beliefs (Percieved threat, percieved benefits etc) changed and most of them were motivated to do BSE and learned and practiced the techniques of BSE.

3. Theory of Planned behaviour:

The Theory of Planned behaviour was proposed by Ajzen in 1989, formerly published as Theory of reasoned action im 1980. It states that intention / motivation and behavioural control/ ability determines the behavioral achievement.

An Example: A Health educator motivates a group of woman who are at risk for Obesity and related illness. She explains the benefits of regular exercise and low calorie diet and its effects in health , also  she assist them in planning feasible strategies for daily exercise programme for the women according to their convenience. Motivation or intention to loss extra body weight and behavioural control ( diet and exercise) makes the women to plan for their diet and regular physical activity and they initiate the health promoting activity of diet control and exercise, based on a planned programme.