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C. M. PERRY, Dept. of Nutrition & Health Sciences, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, 202-H Ruth Leverton Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0806 Understanding and improving health behavior continues to be a central challenge for most health professionals. Behavioral and social science theory provides a platform for understanding why people engage in health-risk behavior and why they adopt health-protective behavior. Understanding the diverse individual, familial, social, and cultural factors that influence an individual's adoption or maintenance of health-risk behavior can be useful when applied to planning, implementing, and evaluating health promotion programs. The range of theoretical approaches used in the field of Health Promotion is diverse and many of these theories have been shown to effectively contribute to improved public health. The application of theory can focus empirical investigations, guide the design and implementation of health promotion programs, aide in the selection of important constructs that impact health behavior, help to explain and predict behavior, and help to clarify complex issues. Despite these well-established benefits, several barriers exist when using theory and often inhibit the application of theory even among the most competent of health professionals. This presentation will provide an overview of the purpose, value, and use of health behavior theory in program planning and evaluation. A review of the most current theories used in health behavior change interventions will be discussed. Particular attention will be devoted to the various strategies that greatly enhance program evaluation efforts when applying theory to practice.
Session 24, Are you making a difference: Evaluating the impact of education programs
2005 IFT Annual Meeting, July 15-20 - New Orleans, Louisiana |