Planned Behavior Model Vs Continuum Model

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Behavior change can principally be accounted for by models of health behavior (Schwarzer, 2008). There are two types of health behavior models found in the literature. These are continuum models and stage models (Schwarzer, 2008). Continuum models places the individual along a scale that reflects the likelihood of the person to change (Schwarzer, 2008). Continuum models assume that the biggest influence to change is behavioral intention (Schwarzer, 2008). It focuses on identifying predictors including perceived barriers, social norms, disease severity, personal vulnerability, and perceived self-efficacy (Schwarzer, 2008). Examples of the continuum include The Health Belief Model, Theory of Reasoned Action and The Theory of Behavioral Change. …show more content…
Therefore, the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and by extension the Theory of Planned Behavior (TBP) can be used to predict the likelihood of accepting and adhering to treatment. The HBP, TBA and TPB fall under value-expectancy theory based models (Taylor et al., 2007). However, it should be noted that perceived threat is not a part of the TBP model. Per the Theory of Planned Behavior, behavioral intention is the most influential determinant of behavior (Azjen, Albarracin &Hornik, 2007). Behavioral Intention is influenced by behavioral attitudes, subjective norms and perceptions of behavioral control (Azjen et al., 2007). Behavioral performance and outcome evaluation are components that fall under Behavioral attitudes. Behavioral beliefs explain the likelihood that action will either cause or prevent a given outcome whereas behavioral outcome refers to the evaluation of the outcome of the behavior in terms of desirable or undesirable outcomes (Taylor et al., 2007). In the scenario presented above, the prediction of accepting and adhering to CPAP treatment is dependent on the perceived outcome that is to be expected with CPAP use. This can be thought of as the possible perceived barriers (decline in productivity, spontaneous intimacy with partners) and perceived benefits associated with CPAP use. The more barriers there are to use CPAP therapy then the likelihood of an individual wanting to begin CPAP remains low. Subjective norms are also made up of two components. These are normative beliefs that is the referent beliefs about what others expect and motivational compliance which is the individual’s want to comply with the referent’s expectations (Taylor et al, 2007; Harvey &Lawson, 2008). Keeping the concept of subjective norms in mind, depending on the patient’s perception of social pressure he/she is more likely