Behavior Change Theories and Planning Models

Behavior Change Theories and Planning Models

The combination of behavior change theories and planning models are key in developing an intervention plan for several health care associated problems. Through these theories and models, health education specialists can research and find root causes to problems, factors that surrounded the health problem, point of risk factors, and develop a plan of action. These models not only educate the individuals struggling with health issues, but provide very important data that can later be used for further research.

Behavior Change Theories

According to the text, theories are “a set of interrelated concepts, definitions, and propositions that presents a systematic view of events or situations by specifying relations among variables in order to explain and predict the events of situations” (p.100). In short, theories help explain why things are in a less complex way for everyone to understand. Models are often thought to be one and the same as a theory; however, models can be further defined as “a composite, a mixture of ideas or concepts taken from any number of theories and used together” (p.101). The main difference between theories and models are that models combine theories and ideas to further explain these concepts and ideas.

It is especially important to use theories in health education because they “help health education specialists with planning, implementing, and evaluating programs” (p.101). Through these theories, health education specialists can show why individuals are behaving in an unhealthy manner, compile information needed to develop an intervention plan, develop a plan according to the type of individual and their desired outcome, and develop a plan on how to evaluate...

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...Developing theories and models are crucial in the health care industry. Finding the right plan of action for the growing number of health care issues is vital in prevention and treatment. Through these models, health education specialists, communities, the country, and even individuals themselves can assess the health issues at hand and develop a plan. The theories and models provided are just some of the most popular ones used among health care professionals today.

Works Cited

2013, April 16). Taranaki Daily News. p. 14.

Cottrell, R. R., Girvan, J. T., & McKenzie, J. F. (2012). Principles and foundations of health promotion and education (5th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Benjamin Cummings. ISBN 9780321734952.

(2010) The Editions: CDCYNERGY Centers for Disease Control

Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/cdcynergy/editions.html