Behavior Change Theories and Strategies Essay -- Psychology, Cognitive

To begin with,a health practisioner may fascilate behaviour change in an individual with a health risk behaviour through the application of different behaviour change theories and strategies. In general,health risk behaviours are actions which may threaten an individual's health causing negative effects(Barkway,2009).Until the mid 20th century,global health threats were primarily a result of infectious and communicable diseases.However,recently in developed countries,health threats are now posed by diseases in which lifestyle play a role in the causation and or management of illness.For instance,the modifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease,a leading cause of disease burden are tobacco smoking,high blood pressure and high colesterol level which are eventually related to health behaviour and lifestyle(Barkway,2009). This essay will first introduce the health risk behaviour,in this case,smoking.Secondly,it will decribes the theories or models of behaviour change, which are thecognitive and non cognitive theories, transtheoritical model of behaviour change and motivational interwiewing.Lastly,it will mention the different health strategies and how it aids in bringing about behaviour change followed by the conclusion. Jones(as cited in Jons and Creedy,2008) states that large proportion of the morbidity and mortality associated with lifestyle diseases is preventable.It is also estimated that 25 % of all cancer deaths and a large propotion of deaths from coronory heart disease and stroke could be prevented by modifying just one behaviour,that is,cigratte smoking(Taylor as cited in Jons and Creedy,2008).In addition,Allen(as cited in Jons and Creedy,2008) sta... ... and withdrawal symptoms. Currently, bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix) are the only two medications that don’t contain nicotine which are approved as smoking cessation aids. These anti-smoking pills are intended for short-term use. (Lhrar,Segal&Smith,2008). To sum up,it seems that a health practisioner can fascilate behaviour change through the understanding and application of various behaviour change theories, and different considerable strategies.The different theories seem to educate and guide a health practisioner through the processes of behaviour change . It is also noted that, behaviour change requires willingness or determination from an individual with a health risk behaviour and a health practisioner's knowledge on how and through what strategies to bring about that change to achieve the goal of fascilating behaviour change.