Chapter 10 Vocabulary: Health Behavior, Health Promotion & Patient Education

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards for Chapter 10 covering terms, concepts, and theoretical models related to health behavior, health promotion, and patient education.

Behavior change

A process in which a person modifies an existing health-related behavior or adopts a new behavior in order to improve health or reduce health risks.

Ecological model

A model that views health behavior as the result of complex interactions between individuals and their environments. It recognizes that behavior is influenced at multiple levels, including individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy factors.

Empowerment

Helping patients gain the knowledge, confidence, and control needed to participate in decisions about their own health. Patients who are involved in decision-making are more likely to make and maintain health changes.

Health behaviors

Activities or actions that affect health, including behaviors that enhance health, prevent disease, control symptoms, or reduce health risks.

Health belief model

A behavior-change model proposing that people are more likely to take health-related action when they believe they are susceptible to a condition, believe the condition is serious, believe the action will be beneficial, perceive few barriers, receive cues to act, and feel capable of performing the action.

Health counseling

A collaborative, person-centered process in which a healthcare professional helps an individual identify health concerns, explore choices, set realistic goals, and develop strategies for healthier behaviors.

Health disparities

Systematic and preventable differences in health status, health outcomes, or access to healthcare that disproportionately affect socially or economically disadvantaged populations.

Health education

Planned teaching and learning activities designed to increase knowledge, build skills, and support informed decisions and behaviors that improve or maintain health.

Health literacy

The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, understand, and use health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.

Health promotion

The process of enabling people to increase control over and improve their health through healthy behaviors, supportive environments, education, prevention, and community or policy actions.

Plain language

Clear, simple communication that uses familiar words, short sentences, organized information, and explanations that make health information easier for people to understand and use.

Quality and safety

Essential components of healthcare focused on providing effective, person-centered care while preventing errors, reducing harm, and improving outcomes. Strategies include culturally competent care, patient involvement, clear communication, and empowerment.

Self-efficacy

An individual's belief in their own ability to successfully perform a behavior, overcome barriers, and influence their health.

Social cognitive theory

A theory stating that behavior is influenced by the interaction of personal factors, behavior, and the environment. Key concepts include observational learning, reinforcement, goal setting, and self-efficacy.

Social justice

The principle that all people should have fair and equitable access to resources, opportunities, healthcare, and conditions that support health, with attention to reducing avoidable health inequities.

Social marketing

The application of marketing principles and techniques to encourage social or behavioral change. Messages and strategies are tailored to the needs and characteristics of a specific population.

Teach-back method

A communication technique used to confirm understanding. The healthcare professional explains or demonstrates information, then asks the learner to explain it back in their own words or show how to perform the task. If needed, the information is re-explained and checked again.

Transtheoretical model (Stages of Change model)

A behavior-change model used to determine where a person is in relation to changing a behavior and how ready they are to change. Care should match the person's stage of readiness and respect the person's right to choose.

Precontemplation

The person is not currently considering behavior change and may be unaware of the need for change or not ready to change.

Contemplation

The person is seriously considering a specific behavior change, typically within the next 6 months, but has not yet committed to action.

Planning / Preparation

The person intends to take action soon, typically within the next month, and may already be taking small steps or making a specific plan for change.

Action

The person has made the behavior change and is actively working to maintain it. This stage generally includes the first 6 months after the change.

Maintenance

The behavior change has been maintained for at least 6 months, and the person continues working to sustain the new behavior and prevent relapse.

Universal precautions

An approach to health communication that assumes every patient may have difficulty understanding health information. Information is therefore presented clearly and simply to everyone, with understanding routinely confirmed, often through methods such as teach-back.