PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Behavior change”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed2007

Electrophysiologic changes in dorsal root ganglion neurons and behavioral changes in a lumbar radiculopathy model.

STUDY DESIGN: The DRG neuron was electrophysiologically investigated using a rat model with constriction of the proximal site of the DRG. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the pathomechanisms of lumbar radiculopathy, we established a rat model with constriction of the proximal site of the DRG. And to characterize the DRG neurons in the rat model of lumbar radiculopathy, the physiologic properties regarding action potential, Na, and K current of the DRG neurons were analyzed through the use of patch clamp recordings. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In lumbar root constriction models, properties of secondary afferent neurons in the dorsal horn have been investigated. However, the electrical properties of DRG neuron have not been well investigated. METHODS: To compare the excitability of DRG neurons between root constriction models and sham, we examined the threshold current, action potential (AP) threshold, resting membrane potential (RMP), afterhyperpolarization (AHP), action potential duration 50 (APD50), action potential amplitude, maximum rise time of AP, and pattern of discharges evoked by depolarizing current. We also examined the peak Na current and steady-state Na and K currents with the voltage clamp technique. RESULTS: The rats in the root constriction group demonstrated mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. In measurement of the action potential, lower threshold current, more depolarized RMP, larger AHP, and prolonged APD50 were measured in the root constriction neurons compared with the sham group. The incidence of sustained burst was significantly higher in root constriction neurons. The Na current in root constriction neurons was markedly larger. There were no significant differences in K current density and voltage dependency. CONCLUSIONS: The constriction of lumbar root increased excitability and Na current amplitude of DRG neurons. These findings indicate that lumbar radicular pain may be associated with increased excitability of involved DRG neurons.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1981

Psychiatric disorders in the context of evoolutionary biology. An ethological model of behavioral changes associated with psychiatric disorders.

This paper presents a model designed to account for behavioral changes associated with acute psychiatric illnesses. The model is developed from concepts and data presented in previous work by the authors and others and is strongly influenced by modern evolutionary theory. The model places a strong emphasis on the structural and organizational features of behavior and on testability.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Active behavior and 1/f noise in shell-changing behavior of the hermit crabs.

Hermit crabs are known to carry a gastropod shell to prevent abdomen from injuring by predators and cannibalism. One can regard the shell as a boundary between inside and outside worlds for hermit crabs. We conducted an experiment in which hermit crabs without shells deal with artificial tubes. The situation without a shell requires a part of experimental setup to be regarded as inside by each hermit crab. We accept the distance of locomotion as the indication of the estimation process performed by an individual on parts of the experimental setup. As a result, behavioral hierarchy was found with respect to the way of constituting the boundary. At each level of hierarchy, active behavior produced 1/f noise in comparison with the passive one. It suggests that finding 1/f noise at each level of hierarchy may lead to a lower level of hierarchy in another situation.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Health behavior change models and theories: contributions to rehabilitation.

PURPOSE: This article highlights the importance of health behavior change (HBC) theory, and its relevance to rehabilitation research and practice. METHOD: An extensive review of HBC-related literature pertinent to rehabilitation was conducted, focusing on the potential impact of these theories and models in enhancing long-term results of rehabilitation with regard to lifestyle change and health promotion, and outlining the benefits of incorporating HBC themes into rehabilitation practice. For our purposes, the HBC concept is based on initiation and maintenance of health behaviors, functioning, wellness, and self-management of chronic conditions or disabilities within an environmental context. While comparing and contrasting three widely known theories of HBC, the contributions of these theories to rehabilitation research and practice are discussed. RESULTS: Three propositions are put forward: (1) HBC variables should regularly be used as outcome measures in evidence-based rehabilitation research; (2) there should be a better understanding of the role of the rehabilitation provider as a facilitator in eliciting healthy behaviors; and (3) there is a need to expand the HBC concept into a more comprehensive view encompassing a person's functioning within the environmental context. CONCLUSIONS: A conceptual merger between HBC theories and rehabilitation practice can have major implications for individuals with disabilities, their functioning, health, and well-being.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Putting it together: finding success in behavior change through integration of services.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this analysis and commentary was to explore the rationale for an integrated approach, within and outside the office, to help patients pursue healthy behaviors. METHODS: We examined the role of integration, building on (1) patterns observed in a limited qualitative evaluation of 17 Prescription for Health projects, (2) several national policy initiatives, and (3) selected research literature on behavior change. RESULTS: The interventions evaluated in Prescription for Health not only identified unhealthy behaviors and advised change, but also enabled patients to access information at home, use self-help methods, obtain intensive counseling, and receive follow-up. Few practices can replicate such a model with the limited staff and resources available in their offices. Comprehensive assistance can be offered to patients, however, by integrating what is feasible in the office with additional services available through the community and information media. CONCLUSIONS: Blending diverse clinical and community services into a cohesive system requires an infrastructure that fosters integration. Such a system provides the comprehensive model on which the quality of both health promotion and chronic illness care depend. Integrating clinical and community services is only the first step toward the ideal of a citizen-centered approach, in which diverse sectors within the community-health care among them-work together to help citizens sustain healthy behaviors. The integration required to fulfill this ideal faces logistical challenges but may be the best way for a fragmented health care system to fully serve its patients.

Delivery of Health Care, Integrated↗
PubMed1990

Behavioral change in longitudinal studies: adoption of condom use by homosexual/bisexual men.

We compared reporting serial cross-sectional prevalence of sexual behavior over time, to reporting individual patterns of behavioral change in a cohort of homosexual men at a six-month interval. Aggregate prevalence rates underestimated the magnitude of change to safer practices, and failed to provide information on relapse to less safe practices. We conclude that it is important to report data based on individual fluctuations in behavior for the evaluation of change over time.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effect of differential mortality on risk behavior change in cohort studies.

Recent theoretical work suggests that reductions in aggregate measures of risk behaviors are to be expected during a human immunodeficiency virus epidemic, because mortality is likely to be differential with respect to the level of the risk behavior. We present and apply a methodology for quantifying the effects of differential mortality on risk behavior changes in closed cohort studies. We demonstrate that differential mortality has caused 21% of the observed reduction in the mean, 29% of the observed reduction in the effective average, and 33% of the observed reduction in the variance of a risk behavior in a cohort of gay men.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of the transtheoretical model for behavioral change in women's health.

Application of stage-based counseling approaches using the transtheoretical model can help providers of primary care to women take full advantage of windows of opportunity for promoting women's health. The transtheoretical model enables the counselor or clinician to individualize the message provided to patients based on their stage. This matching of stage of change with the appropriate principles and processes of change will enable primary care providers to more effectively bring about behavioral change and improve the health status of our patients.

Decision Making↗
PubMed1999

Behavioral changes and cholinesterase activity of rats acutely treated with propoxur.

Early assessment of neurological and behavioral effects is extremely valuable for early identification of intoxications because preventive measures can be taken against more severe or chronic toxic consequences. The time course of the effects of an oral dose of the anticholinesterase agent propoxur (8.3 mg/kg) was determined on behaviors displayed in the open-field and during an active avoidance task by rats and on blood and brain cholinesterase activity. Maximum inhibition of blood cholinesterase was observed within 30 min after administration of propoxur. The half-life of enzyme-activity recovery was estimated to be 208.6 min. Peak brain cholinesterase inhibition was also detected between 5 and 30 min of the pesticide administration, but the half-life for enzyme activity recovery was much shorter, in the range of 85 min. Within this same time interval of the enzyme effects, diminished motor and exploratory activities and decreased performance of animals in the active avoidance task were observed. Likewise, behavioral normalization after propoxur followed a time frame similar to that of brain cholinesterase. These data indicate that behavioral changes that occur during intoxication with low oral doses of propoxur may be dissociated from signs characteristic of cholinergic over-stimulation but accompany brain cholinesterase activity inhibition.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Belladonna alkaloids-induced behavioral changes and amnesia on open-field and step-through in 18-, 28-, and 38-day-old mice.

AIM: To study the age-related changes of atropine (Atr), scopolamine (Sco), anisodine (AT3), and anisodamine (Ani) on behaviors and memories. METHODS: The behaviors and memories were measured with open-field test and step-through task. M-cholinergic receptors were determined by [3H] quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H] QNB). RESULTS: During acquisition session (d 1) the 18-, 28-, and 38-d-old mice pretreated with Atr, Sco, and AT3 (0.02, 0.2, 2, or 20 mg.kg-1, i.p.) in open-field test showed increase in walking counts by 26%-42%, but decrease in rearing, grooming, and defecating counts for 50%-92%, 67%-100%, and 75%-100%, respectively. On recall session (d 2) the walking and rearing behaviors in the 18- and 28-d-old mice receiving Atr, Sco, and AT3 on d 1 were higher than those in the mice receiving saline. But a lower grooming behavior on d 2 was found in the mice receiving the drugs on d 1. On d 1 Ani 20 mg.kg-1 reduced the rearing behavior by 50% in 18-d-old mice and defecation by 33%-36% in 18- and 28-d-old mice. All the 4 belladonna alkaloids increased the number of avoidance-response errors and decreased the retention latencies in step-through task. Bmax of [3H] QNB binding sites in frontal cortex and hippocampus regions in the 38-d-old mice increased 7% and 23% vs in the mice of 18 d of age, respectively. CONCLUSION: 1) The effects of the belladonna alkaloids on behaviors and memories in adult mice were weaker than those in young mice. 2) The belladonna alkaloids-induced amnesia on passive avoidance-response in step-through was more sensitive than behavioral changes and amnesia on open-field. 3) According to the lowest effective doses which insulted the behaviors or memories in young mice, Sco was about 10, 100, and 1000 times more potent than Atr, AT3, and Ani, respectively.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Behavior changes after notification of HIV infection.

BACKGROUND: To learn more about how people who did not volunteer for testing react to information about HIV infection, we assessed short-term behavior changes in HIV-positive blood donors. METHODS: Blood donors who were notified at the New York Blood Center that they were HIV positive were asked to participate in a study. A nurse elicited a medical history, performed a limited medical examination, and asked participants to complete a questionnaire that included questions about drug use, sexual behavior, and psychological characteristics. Participants were asked to return in 2 weeks to complete another questionnaire. RESULTS: Many fewer men and women reported engaging in unsafe sexual behaviors in the 2 weeks preceding the follow-up visit than had reported such behaviors prior to notification. These changes were greater than those other investigators have reported, but about 40% of the participants still reported unsafe sexual activity at the follow-up interview. CONCLUSIONS: To make nonvolunteer screening programs for HIV infection more effective in reducing the spread of HIV infection, we need to learn more about how to help people change their high-risk behaviors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Predictors of smoking behavior change 6 and 18 months after individual counseling during periodic health examinations.

Predictors of smoking behavior change were examined in a randomized controlled trial of individualized smoking cessation counseling delivered by a smoking cessation counselor during periodic health examination. Self-reports of not smoking at 6 and 18 months and attempts to quit were greater, but not significantly so, in the intervention group compared with the usual care group. There was no difference between the intervention group and the usual care group in reported continuous abstinence. Multivariate analysis showed that longer periods of abstinence in the past and having smoking identified as the main problem were important predictors of subsequent quitting. Having fewer other smokers in the household, stronger intentions to stop smoking in the next month, and being in the intervention group were also significant predictors of abstinence at 6 months, but not at 18 months. Those who had tried to quit by 6 months and 18 months were more likely to be in the intervention group, to have greater motivation to stop smoking, and to have more problems of daily living. Supplementing physician's advice with individualized smoking cessation counseling during health maintenance examinations was associated with a greater short-term quit rate and more quit attempts over 18 months than physician advice alone, but did not influence continuous abstinence from cigarettes over this time.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1998

Evaluating physical and behavioral changes in older adults.

In older adults, subtle and sometime not so subtle physical or behavior changes can act as early warning signs of changing status. Nonspecific signs and symptoms occurring in older adults such as decline in previous functional capacity, urinary incontinence, anorexia, confusion, or unexplained falls may be signs of infection, medication interaction, dehydration, constipation, or sleep deprivation. Nurses, by critically assessing the situation early, may identify a developing problem. Prompt and early diagnosis of the underlying problem may save costly extended hospitalization or even prevent life-threatening complications.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Self-efficacy and the stages of exercise behavior change.

This study examined the application of constructs concerning stage of readiness to change and self-efficacy to exercise. We developed two scales to measure stages of change for exercise behavior. Prevalence information on a sample of 1,063 government employees and 429 hospital employees was then obtained. Next, the ability of a questionnaire measuring exercise self-efficacy to differentiate employees according to stage of readiness to change was tested. Results from both stages-of-change scales revealed that 34-39% of employees were regularly participating in physical activity. Scores on efficacy items significantly differentiated employees at most stages. Results indicated employees who had not yet begun to exercise, in contrast with those who exercised regularly, had little confidence in their ability to exercise. Continued work at understanding the stages of exercise behavior and exercise self-efficacy could yield important information for enhancing exercise adoption and adherence.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Enhancing support for health behavior change among women at risk for heart disease: the Mediterranean Lifestyle Trial.

This paper describes a randomized study to evaluate the effects of a comprehensive lifestyle management intervention for 279 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes who are at elevated risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). The intervention, called the Mediterranean Lifestyle Trial, is focused on dietary factors, physical activity, social support and stress management. The Mediterranean Lifestyle Trial relies on a synthesis of Social Cognitive Theory and Social Ecologic Theory, as well as goal-systems theory, to explicitly inform the lifestyle intervention and to address maintenance. Thus, the trial should help illuminate the theoretical mechanisms responsible for lifestyle change. Primary outcome variables are dietary, stress management and physical activity behavior change, quality of life, and CHD-related biological risk factors. Hypothesized mediating variables include self-efficacy, coping, and social and environmental support. Following the initial 6-month intervention, participants in the intervention condition are randomized to one of two groups designed to enhance maintenance of effects: either a peer-led support group or a personalized multilevel community resources maintenance condition. Unlike the peer group, the personalized approach focuses on multiple levels of community resources to promote healthful lifestyle change. Because this research focuses on issues of generalization and translation to practice, the RE-AIM evaluation framework is being used to evaluate Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance. This framework will help to translate research into practice by directing researchers' attention to important but seldom-investigated strategies for enhancing longer-term maintenance. Specifically, the study tests how long-term maintenance may be improved through the use of existing community resources, an intervention based on multiple environmental factors and multiple lifestyle behaviors, and lay leaders versus personalized professional support.

Aged↗