1. Seeking Health Care

2. General strategy
If you do not understand the Dr.’s explanation, ask questions until you do.

3. How do theories help? Generate research Organize observations
Help in predicting behavior

4. Health belief model (theory)
Beliefs predicting health-seeking behavior
Perceived susceptibility to disease
Perceived severity of the disease
Perceived benefits of behavior
Perceived barriers (E.g. Cost)

5. Theory of Reasoned Action
Intention to act or not
Shaped by:
Attitude toward the behavior
Subjective norm
Social pressure
Do your friends like the idea

6. Theory of Planned Behavior
Attitude toward the behavior
Subjective norms
Perceived behavioral control
How hard will it be to get what I want.
If people think they can accomplish something, they are more apt to intend to do it.

7. Precaution adoption process model
7 Stages toward health-related behavior
1. Unaware of personal risk
2. Aware, but think it will not apply to them
Optimistic bias
3. Accept they are personally susceptible
But do not take action
4. Decide to take action
5. Decide action is unnecessary
6. Already taken precautions
7. Maintaining precautions

8. Seeking medical attention
Illness behavior
Before diagnosis
Action with symptoms
Sick role behavior
After diagnosis
Even self-diagnosis

9. Seeking medical attention
Gender differences
Women are more likely to go to the doctor

10. Symptom Characteristics
4 factors determining response
1. Visibility of the symptoms
To self and others
2. Perceived severity of symptoms
3. Interferes with personal life
4. Frequency & persistence

11. Conceptualization of disease
Integrating new information with what they already “know”

12. Conceptualization of disease
5 steps
Identity of disease “Heart attack” or “Heartburn”
2. Time line
Chronic or acute
3. Cause
Physical, emotional, or spiritual
4. Consequences
Fear of consequences
Breast cancer or AIDS

13. Receiving health care Medicare 2. Medicaid Over age 65
“Care for the elderly”
2. Medicaid
“Aid the poor”
Low income
Disability
Pregnancy

14. People without insurance
Emergency room
“Dock-in-the-box”
Convenient care clinic

15. Helping children with hospitalization
Reassurance increases fears
“Nothing to be afraid of”
Modeling
Modeling + cognitive = drugs