Learning Theories and Models Comparison

Learning Theories and Models Comparison

HSN 540

Donna Moore

Learning theories and models are an important factor in determining how to access the most successful way for the health care educator to promote a successful plan for their learners. By having knowledge of the different frameworks involved in learning theories and models the healthcare educator help to improve compliance and, or contribute to facilitate motivation (Bastable, Grament, Jacobs, & Sopczyk 2011). Learning theories and model can fall under several approaches, behavioral, cognitive or humanistic. A behavioral learning model results from conditioning in which the result shows actual changes in behavior. In cognitive theories learning occurs through the internal processing of information. In humanistic theories learning takes place as a function of the whole person and their capacity for self-determination.

The Health Belief Model is one of the earliest and most influential models in health promotion. The Health Belief Model helps to explain why individual patients may accept or reject preventative health services or adopt healthy behaviors. The model was initially developed to predict the likelihood of a person taking recommended preventative health action as well as understanding an individual’s motivation regarding seeking health care along with their decision-making ability regarding health care. Theorists believe that the model shows that people will respond best to health promotion or disease prevention under particular conditions. The first is when one believes they are at risk of developing a particular condition, the belief that they are in danger of developing the disease are very high, once they believe that the risk can be reduced by a behavior change and lastly when one believes that the behavior change can be overcome and managed ("The Health Belief Model", n.d.). For the first condition to occur a person has to see the impending diagnosis as risky or...