SUN PROTECTION HEALTH BELIEF MODEL 8
Sun protection health belief model
Health beliefs reflection
The people who are highly susceptible to getting skin cancers are believed to be those with blonde hair, fair skin, tendency to burn skin and those with blue eyes. The common type of cancer to which they are prone is referred to as melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Melanoma cancer is a condition whereby the melanocyte cell in the skin is affected by cancer and therefore spreads to other cells malignantly. The melanocyte cell is responsible for the production of melanin which is a pigmented brown in color responsible for skin coloring. The pigment works properly when an individual’s skin is exposed to the sun by tanning the skin and this appears as darkening. The sun can also cause non-melanoma cancer which involves cancer affecting other skin cells and spreading to neighboring cells. The sun is believed to be beneficial as well as harmful. The sun’s ultraviolet rays activate the body cells to produce vitamin D which is significant in bone, immunity and muscle strengthening. Some dermatological conditions are treated by the suns rays. For example, psoriasis, which involves fast shedding of skin cells. The sun helps to help in reducing the speed at which the cells are shed. In Australian nursing, the primary health care involves treatment of all body organs and parts whereby prevention and disease control is emphasized. The skin is the largest organ in the body and taken with much concern since other body organs are protected by it. On the other hand, the same UV rays have harmful effects on the skin such as cancers, sunburns and skin aging. There are different types of skin cancer which include squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and non-melanoma skin cancers. All these results in excessive exposure to the UV rays from the sun (Yilmaz et al. 2015).
The Australian health system has emphasized in carrying out campaigns in creating awareness for skin cancers. That involves activities such as community education and cancer screening. The programs are stretched right from the primary health care providers to the hospital fraternities and finally to the community. That is to ensure that everyone is knowledgeable concerning the disease. The primary health care involves community health, pharmacy, and general allied health practices. Incorporating skin care in the practice has helped Australia dermatological health to be promoted significantly (McMurray & Clendon, 2018).
My skin characteristics completely match with those for a skin which is susceptible to cancer. I have fair skin, blue eyes, red hair and my skin burns in all my sun exposure incidences. Furthermore, I’m prone to other conditions which are related to UV rays such as eye damage. All these worries have caused to be keen in adhering to the Slip Slop Slap seek and slide program for health promotion which was launched in California by the Cancer Council back in 1981. The terms were derived from simple acts which if considered can help in prevention to sunlight exposure. That includes, slipping into long-sleeved cloth for protecting the skin’s direct contact with the sun rays, to slop a sunscreen with high broad spectrum, to slap on a hat which has broad-brimmed to provide enough shadow for protection, to seek shadings in all occasions possible and be sure to always slide on sunglasses on a sunny day. The climate in Australia entails long summer seasons and that happened to cause a lot of burns to those who were susceptible (Yilmaz et al. 2015).
Characteristics of healthy behavior
My knowledge of skin protection was acquired during my early years of schooling. That developed my belief that one will definitely develop cancer if their skin is exposed to UV rays. My childhood was spent in Australia. Protection of the skin from the sun is a priority in the Australian schools and children education centers. The slip, slop, slap, seek and slide health promotion campaign had already been launched and its effect had taken roots in schools. Our teachers emphasized on the awareness such that they incorporated the actions in the school rules. For example, there was a famous slogan in school termed as No hat no play. That mandated my parents to make sure a broad-brimmed hat was part of my school uniform and I realized that no student lacked one because the majority of us loved playing outdoors (Iannacone & Green, 2014). We learned that the biggest risk of skin cancer is being exposed to the sun. The school administration was very compliant in maintaining healthy behavior for sun protection. Our shirt uniform was long sleeved and we had frequent breaks whenever we had outdoor sports in our school. Furthermore, there used to be free sunscreen being distributed to all participants. The instructions for its use included applying it 20 minutes before going to the field, reapplying in a frequency of two hours and all of us were monitored to ensure the instructions were adhered to (Linke, Robinson & Pekmezi, 2014). My regular interaction with the environment which is exposed to sunlight protection from childhood and all the education acquired, lead me to enforce the behaviors to my two children. My children have experienced adopting to the behavior from birth make sure that they dress in long sleeves, put on sunglasses and hats when outdoors, apply sunscreen once above six years old and using window shades to prevent the sun from reaching them while in the car (Moodie, Tolhurst & Martin, 2018).
The fact that I meet the criteria to be at risk of getting skin cancer and other skin diseases related to UV rays, causes me to be anxious and also cautious to make sure that I’m safe. According to the health belief model, an individual’s belief in the effectiveness of prevention and the threats of contacting an illness determines the behavior or attitude they adopt concerning the disease. I have known cancer as an untreatable disease which once acquired, the patient will have to psychological prepare for death. That triggers a lot of fear in me especially now that I know my susceptibility to skin cancer. I am strongly taking all measures so as not to develop any signs of the disease. I have planned to screen for cancer every six months after accepting my situation. I understand that, for one to be strong they need to face their fears (Moodie, Tolhurst & Martin, 2018). My perception of the healthy living in the prevention of the skin diseases is the application of the Slip, Slop, slap, slide and seek technique. I believe that whenever the sun is shining, regardless of the time of the day, I need to be covered in a hat to prevent burns. That is because my skin is so sensitive beyond acquiring only tans to experiencing burn upon sunlight exposure. I believe that if I ever get the skin disease, its severity will result in me losing my skin and ending up exposing my internal organs. Furthermore, the visible skin will be too ugly such that my physical appearance will be totally destroyed. That is why adhering to the prevention program matters a lot to me. I am working on acquiring all the long-sleeved clothes in my wardrobe (Green & Murphy, 2014). That means that that will always be my dressing code regardless of the weather so as to take precaution from contacting UV rays when the weather is unpredictable. I intend to acquire high-quality sunscreen products which as safe for use after thorough research. They should be broad in the spectrum to maximumly reflect back the sun rays falling on the skin. That will minimize any harm that would have to occur in the absence of the sunscreen. My career involves more of field work and that indicates that if precaution is not taken, I will have to keep up with the UV rays. Ensuring a hat is in my personal bag is a guarantee every morning I leave home. The hat will assure me of protection regardless of the presence of a shade or not. I need to advocate for the availability of shedding for our work and also to stick under shades in the comfort of my home or the marketplaces. I will ensure that I carry sunglasses to protect my eyes from the effect of the sun UV rays (Glanz, Rimer & Viswanath, 2015).
Characteristics of risky behavior
Unlike me, my husband’s body does not meet the criteria for susceptibility to skin cancer and sun-related diseases. He therefore often displays behaviors which are considered risky to sun protection. He has a tendency to tan and not burn, has brown eyes and dark colored hair. His skin is olive and there is no cancerous individual in his family lineage. That has made him believe that he is less susceptible to cancer or any dangerous skin disease due to the UV rays. In regard to the health belief model, his perception has affected his behavior concerning sun protection. He works as a construction worker, and since Australia health system insists on employee sun protection, sunglasses, hats, sunscreens, and shades are offered for free at their work sites. He does not use brimmed attachment which is normally attached on their hard hats, neither does he leave home in a long-sleeved shirt (Davis et al. 2015). During induction, the daily index of the UV is included for them so that they can adapt to the behavior from a point of knowledge. That, however, did not help my husband to stop indulging in risky behaviors. The depth of his risky behavior was birthed from his wrong belief that a tan is healthy. That it makes one appear attractive. He could dare to make efforts of acquiring a tan through risky attempts such as using ultraviolet sunbeds and tanning oils. He could even practice sun baking and laying bare under the heating sun with the intention of having his skin turn to dark color. He spent his childhood in Ireland whereby their experience to sunburn skin diseases such as cancer are so rare hence fewer measures taken and fewer policies made for sun protection. Hs perception of UV rays damage is completely different from mine (Mahler, 2014). The priority issues in Ireland are different due to the different pressing matters for the nation. The health officials, therefore, major their activities in other matters other than sun protection. The land experience very fewer sunlight seasons. The school in Ireland has little exposure to sun protection awareness some rules such as hat-wearing are not recognized and sunscreen application is normally considered for holidays especially when touring other countries. The attitude for my husband is not applicable here in Australia due to the high risks and cases of skin cancer. He, unfortunately, failed to change his childhood Irish attitude which is costing his life in Australia (Fischer et al. 2017).
In conclusion, the health belief model consists of two components of behaviors which are related to health. They include the individuals having the desire to recover completely from an illness or preventing acquiring the illness. They also believe that if they carry out a specific action, they will ultimately cure, prevent or not acquire the disease or condition. The two components apply to me and my husband. Both cases happen to be so rigid based on the root cause of the belief since childhood. In most cases, the information presented on a child in their early days and practices used to reign force the information contributes to their attitude in their adulthood. The attitude will, in turn, determine their perceptions on the health condition.
References
Davis, R., Campbell, R., Hildon, Z., Hobbs, L., & Michie, S. (2015). Theories of behavior and behavior change across the social and behavioral sciences: a scoping review. Health psychology review, 9(3), 323-344.
Fischer, A. H., Wang, T. S., Yenokyan, G., Kang, S., & Chien, A. L. (2017). Association of indoor tanning frequency with risky sun protection practices and skin cancer screening. JAMA Dermatology, 153(2), 168-174.
Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (Eds.). (2015). Health behavior: Theory, research, and practice. John Wiley & Sons.
Green, E. C., & Murphy, E. (2014). Health belief model. The Wiley Blackwell encyclopedia of health, illness, behavior, and society, 766-769.
Iannacone, M. R., & Green, A. C. (2014). Towards skin cancer prevention and early detection: evolution of skin cancer awareness campaigns in Australia. Melanoma management, 1(1), 75-84.
Linke, S. E., Robinson, C. J., & Pekmezi, D. (2014). Applying psychological theories to promote healthy lifestyles. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 8(1), 4-14.
Mahler, H. I. (2014). The role of emotions in UV protection intentions and behaviors. Psychology, health & medicine, 19(3), 344-354.
McMurray, A., & Clendon, J. (2018). Community health and wellness-e-book: Primary health care in practice. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Moodie, A. R., Tolhurst, P., & Martin, J. E. (2018). Australia’s health: being accountable for prevention. Medical Journal of Australia, 204(6), 223-225.
Yilmaz, M., Yavuz, B., Subasi, M., Kartal, A., Celebioglu, A., Kacar, H., … & Altiparmak, S. (2015). Skin cancer knowledge and sun protection behavior among nursing students. Japan Journal of Nursing Science, 12(1), 69-78.