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Results for “Health Behavior”

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At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

The impact of behavioral health risks on worker absenteeism.

The relationship between behavioral health risks and worker absenteeism was investigated. Data on absenteeism and on 10 behavioral health risk areas were collected from 35,451 employees. Analyses examined whether higher health risks are associated with higher absenteeism, and whether a reduction in health risks translates into a reduction in absenteeism. Results revealed that a significant relationship existed between health risks and absenteeism in 8 of the 10 risk areas examined. Individuals who are at risk are more likely to be absent than individuals at low risk. Additional analyses revealed that individuals who reduce their risks in the areas of mental health, stress, and back are absent less often than individuals who remain at risk. These findings suggest that absenteeism, and the costs associated with it, may be controlled by health promotion programs and the reduction of health risks.

Absenteeism↗

PubMed2001

The health behavior selection process of young adolescents.

The health behavior selection process of young adolescents was explored using the grounded theory research method. Data were generated from in-depth interviews, field notes from school settings, and memos. A conceptual model was generated identifying 4 major categories: assessing/valuing, confirming, choosing, and safeguarding. The processes identified in the model offer the potential of developing new strategies for school nurses to influence health behavior outcomes among young adolescents.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Goal setting as a strategy for health behavior change.

This article discusses the beneficial effects of setting goals in health behavior change and maintenance interventions. Goal setting theory predicts that, under certain conditions, setting specific difficult goals leads to higher performance when compared with no goals or vague, nonquantitative goals, such as "do your best." In contrast to the graduated, easy goals often set in health behavior change programs, goal setting theory asserts a positive linear relationship between degree of goal difficulty and level of performance. Research on goal setting has typically been conducted in organizational and laboratory settings. Although goal setting procedures are used in many health behavior change programs, they rarely have been the focus of systematic research. Therefore, many research questions still need to be answered regarding goal setting in the context of health behavior change. Finally, initial recommendations for the successful integration of goal setting theory in health behavior change programs are offered.

Goals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Report of recommendations: the Annapolis Coalition Conference on Behavioral Health Work Force Competencies.

In May 2004, the Annapolis Coalition on Behavioral Health Workforce Education convened a national meeting on the identification and assessment of competencies. The Conference on Behavioral Health Workforce Competencies brought leading consumer and family advocates together with other experts on competencies from diverse disciplines and specialties in the fields of both mental health care and substance use disorders treatment. Aided by experts on competency development in business and medicine, conference participants have generated 10 consensus recommendations to guide the future development of workforce competencies in behavioral health. This article outlines those recommendations. A collaborative effort to identify a set of core or common competencies is envisioned as a key strategy for advancing behavioral health education, training, and other workforce development initiatives.

Behavioral Medicine↗

PubMed1998

Survey results on behavioral health promotion in managed primary health care.

Casual observation suggests that many managed health care providers support health promotion and preventive care, including efforts addressing such behavioral health objectives as reduced alcohol use during pregnancy, prevention of family violence, and improved parenting. Respondents from roughly 40 percent of 200 health maintenance organizations (HMOs) selected for a 1995-1996 survey reported some type of health promotion activities with potential behavioral health impact. These 80 HMOs were found to be divided among eight distinct models of interaction between behavioral health promotion and managed primary health care.

Community Health Services↗

PubMed2003

Differences between physical and behavioral health benefits in the health plans of at-risk drinkers.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to describe the physical and behavioral health benefits of a representative community-based sample of at-risk drinkers potentially in need of behavioral health services. METHODS: A screening instrument for at-risk drinking was administered by telephone to a random community sample of more than 12,000 adults. A telephone interview was conducted with the health plans of 294 at-risk drinkers who were insured and who consented to the release of their insurance records to collect information about supply-side cost-containment strategies (for example, gatekeeping and restrictions on choice of provider), and demand-side cost-containment strategies (for example, deductibles, limits, coinsurance, and copayments). Information about health plan characteristics was successfully collected for 217 (72 percent) of the insured at-risk drinkers, representing 113 different health plans and 206 different policies. RESULTS: Both provider choice restrictions and gatekeeping were more likely to be used for behavioral health care than for physical health care. Greater cost-sharing for mental health than for physical health was most often achieved by using additional limits (83 percent) and higher coinsurance (66 percent) and less often achieved by using higher copayments (38 percent) and additional deductibles (13 percent). The greater cost-sharing for behavioral health amounted to a 30 percent ($42) difference in annual out-of-pocket costs for an average user of behavioral health services compared with full parity. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide information to advocacy groups and policy makers about how much equalization would have to occur in the insurance market before full parity could be achieved between physical health and behavioral health benefits for a population of individuals potentially in need of behavioral health services.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

A health education program for inner city high school youths: promoting positive health behaviors through intervention.

This descriptive study examined the influence of a 7-week Health Education Program (HEP) on the reported health behaviors of inner city high school youths. A convenience sample of 83 youths between the ages of 14 and 17 years was selected from a moderate size, metropolitan, midwestern high school. A 32-item Health Behaviors Survey (HBS), developed by the researcher, was administered to the youths before and after the completion of the HEP. Participants were classified by their health behaviors into high-, moderate-, or low-risk categories. In addition, the subjects completed a health diary that was discussed before the weekly presentations. Findings of the study revealed a positive shift in several reported health behaviors from high-risk to low-risk following completion of the HEP. The professional nurse is in an excellent position to develop nursing interventions and creative innovations including preventive measures to positively influence the health behaviors of young people.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Foreign-born and US-born black women: differences in health behaviors and birth outcomes.

We studied health behaviors and birth outcome among 201 foreign-born and 616 US-born Black women receiving prenatal care at Boston City Hospital. Foreign-born women had better pre-pregnancy nutritional status and prenatal health behaviors, and their infants had greater intrauterine growth. Black women are not a homogeneous group; culture and ethnicity, in addition to other variables, must be considered in the study of their birth outcomes.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Evaluating behavioral health services in Minnesota's Medicaid population using the Experience of Care and Health Outcomes (ECHO) Survey.

Performance data on Medicaid managed behavioral health care are for the most part unavailable. The purpose of the current study is to provide a benchmark of Medicaid enrollees' evaluations of access to, and quality of, behavioral health services and to examine the factors that influence these ratings. Eight hundred eighty-five Minnesota Medicaid managed care enrollees who received behavioral health services in 2000 completed the Experience of Care and Health Outcomes Survey, a multidimensional satisfaction survey that included measures of access to services, communication with clinicians, functional improvement, and the effect of treatment. Between 29 and 59 percent of the respondents gave the highest possible ratings to the behavioral health services they received. Access to services and functional improvements were rated less favorably than communication with clinicians and the effects of treatment. Ratings within certain domains varied by age, race, education, and region.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

[A study on the relationship between sources of health information concerning smoking and drinking, and health behavior].

To determine effective measures to popularize knowledge on the health effects of smoking and drinking and to change health behavior, an interview survey of 2000 persons aged 18 or older randomly chosen from national census forms throughout Japan was carried out. The coverage rates of the information concerning smoking and drinking were 97.3% and 92.5%, respectively. Television, newspapers and magazines were the major sources of health information concerning smoking and drinking. In addition, men who gave up or controlled smoking or drinking usually obtained health information from doctors, while those who had never controlled smoking usually obtained health information from their friends and families. Men who could not control drinking effectively usually obtained health information from the health examination consultant at the workplace. However, according to the answers from men who gave up or controlled drinking, the health information useful in changing health behavior was obtained from the health examination consultant at the workplace and from persons who had a disease history. Women who gave up or controlled drinking answered that the health information from their friends and families was helpful to change the health behavior.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Social control of health behaviors: a comparison of young, middle-aged, and older adults.

Social control can positively influence health behaviors, but changes in social networks over time may cause older adults to experience less health-related social control. The size and composition of social control networks, and receipt of health-related social control, were examined in a probability sample of 509 household residents (aged 25-80 years) in Los Angeles County who completed a telephone survey. Compared with younger and middle-aged adults, older adults identified fewer people who attempted to influence their health behaviors and fewer health behaviors that others urged them to change. Older adults also reported less frequent social control attempts aimed at modifying their health behaviors, even after health status, health habits, and social network characteristics were controlled for. Possible explanations for these age-related differences are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Performance incentives in the Massachusetts behavioral health program.

Since 1996, the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (the Partnership/MBHP) has been the behavioral health carve-out vendor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Primary Care Clinician (PCC) Plan. Its use of performance standards and incentives has become one of the central organizing activities for both the Commonwealth and the vendor, and one of the program's hallmarks. Each year, the Commonwealth uses a participative process for generating suggestions for performance incentives, which are then negotiated with the Partnership. Success or failure of projects is judged in accordance with objective measures developed for each incentive project. From 1996 to 2004, 123 performance projects have been completed. Some projects have become contract requirements, and others have developed into programs or services. The performance incentive process blends features of more traditional performance standards with performance-based contracting approaches. This process gives both the Commonwealth and the Partnership the flexibility to reflect changing state policies and to develop a contract that meets the most current needs of members.

Massachusetts↗

PubMed1998

Automated telephone conversations to assess health behavior and deliver behavioral interventions.

The medical care system is not very effective in modifying health behavior of individuals, in particular, ensuring patient compliance with medication regimens, healthy diets, regular physical activity, and regular health screening, and in the avoidance of substance abuse. Telephone-Linked Care (TLC) is a telecommunications technology that enables computer-controlled telephone counseling with patients in their homes. It has been applied to the task of improving a number of different health behaviors. Randomized controlled studies suggest that use of the system for as little as 3 months is associated with improvement in adherence to medication regimens, dietary change in hypercholesterolemia, and increased physical activity among sedentary individuals. Future work involves applying the technology to other important health behaviors, optimally using health behavior theory in the system design, targeting use of TLC to the most appropriate patient groups, incorporating new computer and telecommunications technology into the system, and interfacing TLC into the health care delivery system.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Use of health behavior change theories to guide urinary incontinence research.

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence in adults has been the focus of researchers for over 40 years. Health behavior change theories, predominantly operant conditioning, have guided much of the intervention research. In recent years cognitive theories have been used to guide behavioral interventions for urinary incontinence. Most research has focused on individual rather than group or community behavior. Few, if any, health behavior change theories have been tested on population-based interventions. OBJECTIVES: To explore urinary incontinence research guided by health behavior change theories. METHODS: Existing literature on health behavior change theories was analyzed to generate a plan for future research. RESULTS: Gaps in knowledge are identified and discussed and recommendations for future research are made. CONCLUSIONS: The development and testing of new theories will guide the next generation of incontinence researchers and ultimately lead to reducing the incidence and prevalence of incontinence.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The transtheoretical model of health behavior change.

The transtheoretical model posits that health behavior change involves progress through six stages of change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination. Ten processes of change have been identified for producing progress along with decisional balance, self-efficacy, and temptations. Basic research has generated a rule of thumb for at-risk populations: 40% in precontemplation, 40% in contemplation, and 20% in preparation. Across 12 health behaviors, consistent patterns have been found between the pros and cons of changing and the stages of change. Applied research has demonstrated dramatic improvements in recruitment, retention, and progress using stage-matched interventions and proactive recruitment procedures. The most promising outcomes to data have been found with computer-based individualized and interactive interventions. The most promising enhancement to the computer-based programs are personalized counselors. One of the most striking results to date for stage-matched programs is the similarity between participants reactively recruited who reached us for help and those proactively recruited who we reached out to help. If results with stage-matched interventions continue to be replicated, health promotion programs will be able to produce unprecedented impacts on entire at-risk populations.

Decision Making, Computer-Assisted↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Strategies and innovations for successful quality improvement in behavioral health.

The success of any behavioral health organization depends on its ability to respond to demands from consumers, stakeholders, and accreditation and regulatory agencies, while maintaining effective and safe treatment. The authors provide a quality improvement strategy with exemplars from practice. Readers will appreciate how planning results in accountability and yielding measurable and meaningful outcomes.

Behavioral Medicine↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Perceived goal ownership, regulatory goal cognition, and health behavior change.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the links among perceived goal ownership, regulatory goal cognition, and health behavior change. METHODS: A sample of 390 college students completed measures of (a) perceived goal ownership for a goal related to a health behavior that they, their dating partner, or both were seeking to change, (b) 9 aspects of regulatory goal cognition, and (c) health behavior change. RESULTS: As compared to participants with self-set and joint-set goals, participants with partner-set goals reported less adaptive regulatory goal cognition and were less likely to report positive changes in health behavior. CONCLUSION: Efforts to change dating partner's health behaviors should be framed as joint-set goals.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Behavioral health risk factors of United States emergency medical technicians: the LEADS Project.

OBJECTIVE: Personal risk behaviors are modifiable. This report describes the 2002 national baseline of behavioral health risk factors of US emergency medical technicians (EMTs) that can guide policy and program development in improving EMT well-being. METHODS: A 19-item Health Behavioral Risk Survey (Appendix) was added to the 2002 Longitudinal Emergency Medical Technician Demographic Study mail survey. Risk survey questions covering physical activity, tobacco use, and alcohol use were modeled after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) questionnaire. Personal, non-work related seatbelt use and motor vehicle driving questions were adopted from the 2002 US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey (MVOSS). Post-stratification adjustment factors were used to allow comparisons with BRFSS and MVOSS national estimates. RESULTS: A total of 1,919 EMT respondents were compared with 239,866 BRFSS and 5,220 MVOSS respondents. These comparisons indicate that EMT-Basics drove more slowly than paramedics; male EMTs drove faster, drank more, and wore their seatbelts less often than did female EMTs; female EMTs smoked more and engaged in vigorous exercise less than males. Those EMTs who reported to be in fair or poor health, smoked more and exercised less than those who reported to be in good or excellent health. Regardless of gender, age, or race, EMTs, on average, wore their seatbelts less often, drove faster than, and were less likely to engage in moderate physical exercise, compared to US adults. CONCLUSION: Stereotypical gender differences in risk behaviors exist among EMTs. An EMT's self-reported health positively correlates with smoking and exercising. Compared to US national estimates, except for smoking and vigorous exercise, EMTs have increased risk behaviors.

Adolescent↗