Chapter 3 Seeking Healthcare

Edna's actions can be best described as sick role behavior. Sick role behavior refers to the actions and attitudes that individuals adopt when they are sick, in order to fulfill societal expectations and seek medical help. In this case, Edna has followed the doctor's orders by taking antibiotics and drinking lots of liquids, showing her willingness to comply with the prescribed treatment in order to get well.

Perceived susceptibility to disease is not crucial to the theory of reasoned action. The theory of reasoned action focuses on the influence of attitudes, intentions, and motivations on behavior. It suggests that individuals are more likely to engage in a behavior if they have a positive attitude towards it, intend to perform it, and are motivated to do so. Perceived susceptibility to disease, on the other hand, is a concept related to health beliefs and risk perception, which may influence health-related behaviors but is not specifically addressed in the theory of reasoned action.

In Stage 2 of the precaution adoption process model, individuals are aware of a hazard but believe that others, and not themselves, are at risk. This attitude is referred to as an optimistic bias. This means that individuals perceive themselves as less vulnerable to the hazard compared to others, leading to a sense of optimism and a lower likelihood of taking precautionary measures.

The cost of treatment and hospitalization is least likely to determine people's response to illness according to David Mechanic. This suggests that factors such as perceived severity of the illness, visibility of the symptoms, and the extent to which the symptoms interfere with normal daily functioning are more influential in shaping individuals' responses to illness.

Most people with health insurance in the US are either employed or have a family member who is employed. This is because many employers offer health insurance as part of their employee benefits package, and family members can often be added to the policy. This is a common way for individuals to obtain health insurance coverage.

The rise of managed health care has led to depersonalization of the physician-patient relationship. This is because managed care focuses on cost-effectiveness and efficiency, often leading to shorter appointment times and less personalized care. Physicians may be pressured to see more patients in a shorter amount of time, resulting in less individualized attention and a more transactional approach to healthcare. This depersonalization can negatively impact the doctor-patient relationship and the overall quality of care provided.

The "nonperson" treatment that hospital patients experience arises from the requirement that patients follow hospital routine. This suggests that patients are expected to conform to the hospital's schedule and procedures, which may lead to a loss of individuality and autonomy. The answer does not mention intentional efforts by hospitals to transfer control to staff or physicians who do not care about patients' well-being, so these options can be ruled out. Therefore, the correct answer is the requirement that patients follow hospital routine.

The terms "disease" and "illness" are often used interchangeably, but they have different meanings. Disease technically refers to the process of physical damage, such as biological disorders, while illness refers to the experience of being sick.

Howard Leventhal identified identification of the disease, cause of the disease, and consequences of the disease as factors in the conceptualization of illness. However, he did not include monetary cost of the illness and treatment as one of the factors.

The health belief model is a psychological framework that explains people's health behaviors. It suggests that individuals are more likely to engage in health-enhancing behaviors if they perceive themselves to be at risk of a disease or health problem. Perceived barriers to health-enhancing behaviors refer to the obstacles or challenges that individuals perceive as hindering their ability to engage in these behaviors. This concept suggests that individuals may be less likely to adopt healthy behaviors if they believe that there are significant barriers preventing them from doing so.

Jeff failed to seek immediate health care for a broken hand because he did not believe that he was vulnerable to disability.

People experiencing high levels of stress are more likely to report symptoms but less likely to have their symptoms acknowledged as indicating a disease. This could be because stress can manifest in various physical and psychological symptoms that may mimic those of certain diseases. Additionally, healthcare professionals may attribute these symptoms to stress rather than considering them as potential indicators of an underlying disease.

Women may be more likely than men to seek health care because they may be more sensitive to their internal body status. This means that they may be more aware of any changes or abnormalities in their body, leading them to seek medical attention more frequently. This sensitivity could be due to various factors such as hormonal differences or societal expectations for women to prioritize their health. Overall, this increased sensitivity to their internal body status may explain why women are more likely to seek health care compared to men.

The given correct answer suggests that theories of health-protective behaviors are not always accurate in predicting health-seeking behavior because they do not consider certain factors like poverty and public policy. These theories focus on explaining the causes of behavior rather than taking into account external influences that can impact health-seeking behavior.

The correct answer is "have lost some of their independence". This is because with the introduction of HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations), physicians are often required to follow specific guidelines and protocols set by the organization. This can limit their autonomy and decision-making abilities, leading to a loss of independence.

The theory of planned behavior is the correct answer because it incorporates subjective norms, attitudes towards behavior, and the notion of perceived behavioral control. This theory suggests that people's intentions to engage in a behavior are influenced by their attitudes towards the behavior, subjective norms (social pressure to perform or not perform the behavior), and their perceived control over the behavior. Perceived behavioral control refers to an individual's belief in their ability to perform the behavior. Therefore, the theory of planned behavior encompasses all the mentioned factors.

A 55-year-old woman with a very high level of stress is most likely to seek health care. Stress can significantly impact one's physical and mental well-being, leading individuals to seek medical attention to address their symptoms. Additionally, being a woman and reaching the age of 55 may also increase the likelihood of seeking healthcare due to the potential for menopause-related symptoms or age-related health concerns. The combination of high stress levels and age-related factors make this option the most probable choice for seeking healthcare.

The United States has the greatest restrictions on access to healthcare among these industrialized nations. This is due to a combination of factors such as the high cost of healthcare, the lack of universal healthcare coverage, and the reliance on private health insurance. In the United States, many individuals face barriers to accessing healthcare services, including high deductibles, limited coverage, and high out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, there are disparities in healthcare access based on factors such as income, race, and geographic location.

Alternative health care is growing in popularity because more and more people are seeking alternative methods to traditional health care. This could be due to various reasons such as dissatisfaction with conventional medicine, desire for a more holistic approach to health, or the belief in the effectiveness of alternative therapies. As a result, the demand for alternative health care is increasing, leading to its growing popularity.

Health psychologists use theoretical models to both predict and explain health-enhancing behaviors. Predicting health-enhancing behaviors involves using these models to anticipate and forecast the likelihood of individuals engaging in behaviors that promote their health. On the other hand, explaining health-enhancing behaviors involves using the theoretical models to understand the underlying factors and mechanisms that influence individuals to adopt and maintain these behaviors. By combining prediction and explanation, health psychologists can gain a comprehensive understanding of health behaviors and develop effective interventions to promote better health outcomes.

The correct answer is "prevention is preferable to treatment." This premise suggests that it is better to focus on preventing health issues from occurring in the first place, rather than treating them after they have already developed. This aligns with the concept of promoting overall well-being and taking proactive measures to maintain good health, rather than relying solely on reactive treatments.

The health belief model and the theory of reasoned action focus on individual beliefs and attitudes towards health-seeking behaviors, but they fail to consider external factors such as racism and poverty that can act as barriers to accessing healthcare. These models do not adequately assess the impact of these social determinants of health, which can greatly influence an individual's ability to engage in health-promoting behaviors. By overlooking these barriers, the models may not accurately capture the complexity of health behaviors and may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence health outcomes.

Parents who reassure children who are about to undergo stressful medical procedures, telling them that "There's nothing to be afraid of," tend to increase rather than decrease their children's fears. This is because children may perceive their parents' reassurance as invalidating their feelings and concerns. Instead of feeling supported, children may feel misunderstood or not taken seriously, leading to an increase in their fears. It is important for parents to acknowledge and validate their children's fears while providing comfort and reassurance in a way that is sensitive to their emotions.

The theory of planned behavior specifically includes the factor of ethnic background. This theory suggests that an individual's behavior is influenced by their attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Ethnic background is considered as a factor that can shape an individual's attitudes and subjective norms, which in turn can influence their behavior. Therefore, the theory of planned behavior recognizes the importance of ethnic background in understanding and predicting behavior.

The given answer "none of the above" suggests that none of the provided options accurately explain how people tend to conceptualize most diseases. It implies that people do not necessarily view chronic illnesses as lengthy in duration, do not always perceive their illness as more serious than it actually is, and may not always be medically well-informed about the biological basis of illness.