The Major Theories of Health Promotion and Health bEHAVIOR

1. Running head: THEORIES IN HEALTH PROMOTION AND HEALTH BEHAVIOR 1
Theories in Health Promotion and Health Behavior
Student’s Name
Student ID
Professor’s Name
Date of Submission

2. Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv 2
Internal validity
Internal validity describes how well an experiment is done especially where it avoids
confusion by not having more than one independent variable. Research that has a high internal
validity allows the researcher to choose one explanation over others easily since it avoids
confusion. Therefore, the researcher has more confidence in the selected explanation since there
are no many confusing explanations (Simons-Morton, 2012).
External validity
External validity explains whether the data, as well as theories, apply in other settings
apart from the lab where the research takes place. It also tries to measure if the results apply in
everyday settings as well as in other labs (Crosby, 2013).
Stages of change model
The stages of change model is a theory that tries to evaluate the readiness of individuals
to act on a new healthier behavior. This theory provides the strategies as well as processes of
change that help in guiding an individual through these stages so that the individual can be
successful in the process. The key features of these theory includes stages of change, self-
efficacy, temptations, decisional balance as well as processes of change (Glanz, 2008).
The first stage of change is the precontemplation stage which indicates that the individual
is not ready for the change process since they are not aware that that their behavior is
problematic. The second stage is known as contemplation and in this stage people have begun to
notice that their behavior is problematic and therefore begin to assess the advantage and
disadvantage of their actions. The third stage is known as preparation stage and this is where the
individual are ready to take small steps towards the intended goal. The next stage is action and
this is whereby individuals have made alterations to their behaviors so that they acquire the new

3. Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv 3
healthy habits. Maintenance is the other stage in which individuals have been able to maintain
the new healthy behavior for about six months and therefore they are working to make sure that
they do not relapse to the previous stage. The final stage is known as termination and at this
stage, the individual tend to have zero temptation to returning to their old unhealthy habits
(Simons-Morton, 2012).
Heroin and prescription opioid epidemic is a health condition that affects many
individuals around the world. According to this theory is that people in the precontemplation are
in denial stage meaning that they choose information that encourage them to continue using
heroin and opioid. It is difficult to reach people that are in this stage since they intentionally
refuse to taken in any advice or suggestion that could influence them to change their behavior.
In the contemplation stage, the heroin and opioid users are getting ready to change their
behavior as they have assessed the pros and cons of each of the alternatives. These drug users
can take a longer period in this stage as they are still contemplating about the pros and cons of
changing from their behaviors. The drug abusers then move to the next stage which involves the
individual becoming ready for the change. In this stage the individual takes the step of seeing a
counselor or visiting a rehabilitation center (Glanz, 2008).
Action is the stage where the individual reduces the intake of the heroine and this can be
measured by the reduction in tablets or needles that are injected to the person. The last stage is
whereby the heroin addict has made progressive change in his/her behavior and therefore tries to
avoid cases where relapse can occur.
This theory works well for understanding heroin and opioid epidemic since it explains
well the process by which an individual follows for them to be completely free of addiction.

4. Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv 4
These stages help the individual to overcome the addiction slowly by moving from one stage to
another.
I am proposing an active control in solving the heroin and opioid epidemic. This
suggestion is because a drug addict can only resolve to come out of the addiction by himself and
other people are external to making his decisions. An active role is vital since the individual will
make a wise decision by himself and he will he tired of his behavior by the time the individual
decides to leave the use of illegal drugs.
The health belief model would best convince the state to provide Medicaid coverage or
treatment that would not otherwise be covered. This model was developed to describe and
forecast health behaviors. According to this theory is that people can reduce their health
problems by observing behaviors that prevent the occurrence of sicknesses. This situation would
reduce costs that the government incurs in providing quality healthcare to all of its citizens. The
government would therefore be motivated to provide these services since it would only be forced
to spend little amounts of money since the majority of its population would not be at a great risk
of suffering from illnesses. This theory is therefore the best to be applied for these purposes as it
can help the government in estimating the cost of healthcare (Glanz, 2005).

5. Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv 5
References
Crosby, R. A. (2013). Health behavior theory for public health: Principles, foundations, and
applications. . Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=1G9MGgsymIAC&pg=PR2&dq=Health+behavior+theory+for+publi
c+health:+Principles,+foundations,+and+applications.+.+Burlington,+MA:+Jones+%26+Bartlett+Learning
.&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Health%20behavior%20theory%20for%20public%20health%
3A%20Principles%2C%20foundations%2C%20and%20applications.%20.%20Burlington%2C%20MA%3A%
20Jones%20%26%20Bartlett%20Learning.&f=false
Glanz, K. (2008). Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice. San
Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=1xuGErZCfbsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Glanz,+K.+(2008).+Health
+behavior+and+health+education:+Theory,+research,+and+practice.+San+Francisco,+CA:+Jossey-
Bass.&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Glanz%2C%20K.%20(2008).%20Health%20behavior%20
and%20health%20education%3A%20Theory%2C%20research%2C%20and%20practice.%20San%20Franc
isco%2C%20CA%3A%20Jossey-Bass.&f=false
Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & National Cancer Institute (U.S.). (2005). Theory at a glance: A guide
for health promotion practice. Bethesda? Md.: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute.
Simons-Morton, B. G. (2012). Behavior theory in health promotion practice and research.
Sudbury, Mass: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

6. Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv 6
https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=cA5i0TeEdrkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Simons-
Morton,+B.+G.+(2012).+Behavior+theory+in+health+promotion+practice+and+research.+Sudbury,+Mas
s:+Jones+%26+Bartlett+Learning&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false