HBCASE4

MEASURING HEALTH BEHAVIOR

According to Mokdad & Remington (2010), “health behaviors are a leading cause of illness and death in the United States” (p. 1). Reflecting on this statement, write a paper (2-3 pages) discussing the importance of being able to measure health behaviors and describing methods to assess health behaviors in a target population.

Assignment Expectations

The following items in particular will be assessed:

1. Discuss reasons for measuring health behaviors.
2. Identify at least two methods to assess/measure smoking behaviors among adolescents in your community.
3. In your opinion, do you agree or disagree that measurement of health behavior is useful for program planning. Defend your position by providing empirical evidence.

Required Readings

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2009). Developing process evaluation questions [Evaluation Briefs No. 4]. Retrieved July 1, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/evaluation/pdf/brief4.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2009). Evaluating your strategic plan [Evaluation Briefs No. 5]. Retrieved July 1, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/evaluation/pdf/ertnews_spring09.pdf

Committee on Health and Behavior: Research, Practice, and Policy, Board on Neuroscience and Behavioral Health (2001). Evaluating and disseminating intervention research. Health and behavior: The interplay between the biological, behavioral, and societal influences (pp. 274-309). Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Retrieved July 1, 2012 from http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=9838&page=274

Mokdad, A.H. & Remington, P.L. (2010 July). Measuring health behaviors in populations. Preventing Chronic Disease, 7(4), A75. Retrieved July 1, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2010/jul/10_0010.htm