DETERMINANTS OF BEHAVIOR TIPS

                PRIORITY GROUP -  BEHAVIOR -  DETERMINANTS -  ACTIVITIES


1. Always identify your priority group and which behavior you want to change. (Do not jump into creating projects/activities without first knowing your target population)

2. Identify the determinants that people are using to change/not change their behaviors.

3. Based on the determinants of behavior, you can identify/create activities that tailor to changing the behavior.

4. Behavior change must be written in action terms

5. Always document what you do


I thought this training was relevant to what I learned in my intro class in Public Health because we were given scenarios that show how internal/external environments and personal beliefs can affect individuals lifestyles, and impact their behaviors.

Determinants of Behavior

CUES FOR ACTION
"Can I remember to do it?"
Another determinant is whether or not the person can (1) remember to do the preventative action,and (2) remember the steps involved in doing the preventive action. Another name for this barrier is "cues for action." A cue is something that helps you remember something else. If someone cannot remember to do the action, or cannot even remember the action itself, then that person's knowledge of--and opinion about--the action (i.e. whether it works) does not matter.

PERCEIVED SEVERITY
"Is the problem very serious?"
Another determinant is whether or not the person believes that the problem or disease is very serious.Another name for this barrier is "perceived severity." If people do NOT think that a problem or disease is serious or annoying, they may not take action to prevent it.

PERCEIVED SOCIAL ACCEPTABILITY (most common)
"Is the preventive action socially acceptable?"
Another determinant to consider is whether or not people believe that the action is socially acceptable to their community, their family or to others that are important to them (i.e. their doctors or pastors). Another name for this barrier is "perceived social acceptability." If someone thinks that their neighbors, family or toher important to them would criticize them for adopting a particular practice, they may not do it, regardless of their personal opinion. For that reason, we need to educate all of the people who are consulted when a person makes a decision.

PERCEIVED SUSCEPTIBILITY
"Can I get the disease?" or, "Could that problem happen to me?"
One of the important determinants is whether or not a person beleives that the problem could happen to him/her. Another name for this barrier is "perceived susceptibility." If people think that they cannto get a particular disease or have a particular problem, they often will NOT take action to prevent it.

PERCEPTION OF DIVINE WILL
"Is it God's will (or the gods' will) that I (a) should not have the problem, or (b) that I overcome the problem?"
Another determinant is if the person believes that it is God's will (or the god's will) for him/her to have the problem or to not overcome it.Another name for this barrier is "perception of divine will." If someone believes that it is not god's will that they avoid or be released from a disease or problem, they may not do anything to try to avoid or be released from it themselves.

PERCEIVED SELF-EFFICACY
"Is it easy to do (especially in terms of skills, access, time and money)?"
Another determinant is whether or not the person thinks the preventive action is (or would be) easy for him/her to do. Another name for this barrier is "perceived self-effcacy." If a person thinks that an action is very difficult to do, he/she may not do it. This includes (but is not limited to) having the required (1) ability (skills and knowledge), (2) access (i.e. to services, supplies) and (3) ressources in terms of time and money.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES OF THE ACTION
"What are the advantages and disadvantages of the behavior?"
Attributes are characteristics of something. There are things that are sometimes associated with a given preventive action that may make a person more likley to do a positive behavior or less likely to do a given negative behavior. These things may or may not have anything to do with health or other aspects of community development, nor do they necessarily have anything to do with the other barriers. These are things that have to do with personal preferences: what gives the person enjoyment and fulfillment in life (positive attributes of the action) and the things that they dislike (negative attributes of the action).

PERCEIVED ACTION EFFICACY
"Does the preventive action work?"
Another determinant is whether or not the person believes that the preventive action actually works (i.e. if it can indeed prevent the disease ot problem). Another name for this barrier is "perceived action efficacy." If people think the preventive action you are promoting does not work to prevent the problem or disease, then they probably will not do it.