Essay on theories and models of health

In addition, specific resources that are meant to achieve results are part of an ideal intervention program. Thus, theories play a critical role in ensuring that the intended results are obtained. They function to inform and augment health care policies, planning process, quality improvement, and evaluation. Theories provide guidelines that benefit both the community, healthcare professionals, and systems since they improve decision making while enhancing the quality and efficiency of health services. Health promotion programs are often developed with an aim of improving public health. Thus, the underlying theory is essential in understanding the intervention program since it may improve procedures for complex interventions. Health theories can be used in multiple ways. They can be used for needs assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of various stages of intervention.

Theories help planners to find answers to how, why, and what questions of the problem (Rimer & Glanz, 2005). In other words, theories guide research questions like why people follow certain lifestyles, why they are not following medical advice, or not caring for themselves as required. They help one view the broader picture of any activity pursued. Therefore, being aware of different behavioral theories and having the ability to apply them efficiently means professionalism. A skillful public health professional is obliged to use theories appropriately to solve problems. Therefore, health professionals are recommended to continually come up with new ideas depending on the specific situations, which can only be possible when they are conversant with a variety of health theories. Health promotion constitutes diverse ideas that come from social and behavioral sciences that are meant to meet the concerns of public health workers.

Thus, the explanatory theory is useful in describing factors influencing a given behavior, which explains why the behavior exists. It provides a framework for determining the range of problems that people seek to modify. An example of the explanatory theory includes the theory of planned behavior. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is a reinforcement of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). TPB upholds what TRA explained about human behavior. Change Theory Change theory is a theory of actions. It guides the development of healthy behaviors, which include health promotion interventions. Change theories constitute concepts that can be converted into program strategies. They help one come up with explicit assumptions about how a given program should work. Theory of change related to a specific type of procedure for planning, implementation, and evaluation that is used to promote social change.

Equally, change theory can be developed by reading documents, analyzing data, or collaborating with stakeholders, which is often done when reflecting on the past and planning. Examples include Community Organization. Community organization constitutes the community identifying common problems, mobilizing resources, developing, and implementing actions to achieve collective goals. The model assumes that the community identifies the issues to be addressed by itself (Rimer & Glanz, 2005). Therefore, public health professionals are obliged to adapt to applying community organizing method when launching programs that touch on the concerns of the community. Theories provide guidance on how the desired end can be achieved by working backward. At each stage, the planner is guided on what should be done to reach the next step. Theories enhance situation analysis by establishing the current position, which is the reality.

Situation analysis should be done realistically and honestly, which makes sure that no problem is avoided. Besides helping planners allocate resources appropriately, theories are crucial in predicting the future, which is the program’s vision. Thus, change is the desired behavior expressed by the vulnerable group or environmental characteristics and changes in causes of such behaviors. However, achieving desirable change requires aligning individual behaviors with available theories. Behavior change can only be enhanced by analyzing the existing problem and its determinants scientifically, also needs assessment. What follows should be a comprehensive intervention design. Ideally, the designed intervention should be theory-based, which allows for a more natural selection of the theme, scope, and order of the program. As a result, factors prevailing in these systems can either promote or derail how the intervention influences the specific behaviors or environmental phenomena being targeted.

Therefore, for any intervention to be successful, it must factor the characteristics of both the individuals and the system. The procedure can only be possible by applying appropriate theories that can enable health practitioners to identify significant actors at each ecological level. These may include parents, community leaders, organizational manager, public relations personnel and policymakers. Nevertheless, each stage of the intervention process focuses on critical agents who can control the aspects of the targeted behaviors or environmental conditions. The primary focus is placed in solving the problem. In other words, the criteria for success is established by how far the problem can be reduced. The Health Belief Model (HBM) is one approach that can be used to intervene in populations with varied ailments.

The model can explain and predict healthy and poor behaviors in regards to health activities. HBM is useful in establishing the relationship between health beliefs and health behaviors. It ensures that behavioral scientists conduct a thorough analysis of the critical issue. It guides health practitioners to develop intervention programs step by step by integrating multiple theories to explain the existing health problems (Rimer & Glanz, 2005). It is preceded by intervention theory, which is used to establish an assumption regarding factors contributing to the health problem at hand. The theoretical framework help provides for planning for the targeted intervention, which includes choosing realistic goals. However, finding answers to the local problem may be enhanced by seeking answers to crucial questions, evaluating what is already known, reviewing literature and theories for additional construct, and developing a working plan.