Concepts and Theories of Health Behavior
Case Assignment
Utilize the required readings for this module and access to write a short paper (2-3 pages) addressing the following items in particular:
- Describe the County Health Rankings.
- At the County Health Ranking’s Web page, click on the “search by county, state, or topic” area.
- Search for “Orange, CA” information.
- Identify Orange County, California’s ranking under “Health Behaviors”.
- Identify percentages of 4 health behaviors listed under Orange County.
- Search for your Local County and State where you currently live.
- Briefly summarize findings about your local county and state’s health outcomes (example: to length of life, quality of life, and health behaviors).
- In your own words, define “risk factors” and provide examples of risk factors for health behaviors you identified in #2 above. Be sure to cite a reference even though you used your own words.
- Research and identify another source of data for health behaviors (e.g., national database or tracking system).
NOTE
In-text citations and references: Be sure that all information and ideas in your papers are supported by in-text citations and corresponding references at the end of the paperScholarly writing: Use an academic paper format, not an essay based on your opinions or experience. Avoid using the first person in writing. Synthesize what you learned from the sources you read; write papers in your own words; and cite sources within the text, as well as include a properly formatted reference list.
Required Reading
Administration for Children & Families (2012). Overview. Tools conducting a community assessment. [Electronic resources]. Retrieved from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/resource/condu…
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). The behavioral risk factor surveillance system. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/about/
Glanz, K. (n.d.) Social and behavioral theories. Retrieved from http://www.esourceresearch.org/eSourceBook/Sociala…. Also available as pdf at http://www.esourceresearch.org/Portals/0/Uploads/D…
Glanz, K., Rimer, B.K., & Viswanath, K. (Eds.) (2008). Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2016). County health rankings & roadmaps. Retrieved from
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute (2005). Theory at a glance. Retrieved April 1, 2013 from http://www.sneb.org/2014/Theory%20at%20a%20Glance….
Vermont Department of Health (2011). Community assessment tool kit: Nutrition and physical activity. Fit and healthy Vermonters. Retrieved October 21, 2015 from
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The County Health Rankings is a significant resource for identifying and analyzing the health outcomes and behaviors of communities across the United States. This assignment aims to explore the rankings of Orange County, California and analyze the percentages of health behaviors. Additionally, this paper will summarize the findings of the student’s local county and state health outcomes and define the term “risk factor” while providing examples of how risk factors impact health behaviors.
Q1: Describe the County Health Rankings.
The County Health Rankings is a program by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, which compares and showcases the health outcomes of counties across the United States. The program gathers data from federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Census Bureau. It provides rankings of counties on two outcomes – health factors and outcomes – along with several health behaviors.
Q2: Identify Orange County, California’s ranking under “Health Behaviors”. Identify percentages of 4 health behaviors listed under Orange County.
According to the County Health Rankings, Orange County, California’s ranking under “Health Behaviors” is 9th out of 58 counties in California. The percentages of the four health behaviors listed under Orange County are:
• Adult smoking – 8%
• Adult obesity – 22%
• Excessive drinking – 18%
• Driving deaths involving alcohol – 37%
Q3: Search for your Local County and State where you currently live. Briefly summarize findings about your local county and state’s health outcomes (example: to length of life, quality of life, and health behaviors).
According to the County Health Rankings, my local county, Los Angeles County, California, ranks 28th out of 58 counties in California for overall health outcomes. The rankings are based on several factors, including length of life, quality of life, social determinants of health, health behaviors, clinical care, and physical environment. The county’s health behaviors comprise adult smoking (13%), adult obesity (24%), excessive drinking (18%), and driving deaths involving alcohol (30%).
Q4: In your words, define “risk factors” and provide examples of risk factors for health behaviors you identified in #2 above. Be sure to cite a reference even though you used your own words.
Risk factors refer to certain conditions or lifestyles that increase an individual’s susceptibility to illness or injury. According to the County Health Rankings, individual behavior is identified as one of the risk factors that affects health outcomes and can increase or decrease the risk of contracting harmful diseases. For example, excessive drinking and smoking are significant contributors to numerous health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disorders.
Q5: Research and identify another source of data for health behaviors (e.g., national database or tracking system).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a significant source of data for health behaviors. It is responsible for maintaining a national database called the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The BRFSS is the largest ongoing telephone health survey in the world, collecting data on the health behaviors, chronic conditions, and use of preventative services among adults in the United States. It provides essential health information that helps identify health disparities and inform public health policies and interventions.
Conclusion:
The County Health Rankings is an insightful tool for analyzing health outcomes and behaviors across counties and states in the United States, with Orange County, California, ranking 9th out of 58 counties in health behaviors. Additionally, the paper summarizes the health outcomes of the student’s local county, Los Angeles, California, and defines risk factors, which can increase an individual’s susceptibility to illness or injury. Finally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System is another significant source of data to analyze health behaviors.
