Behavioral cues can potentially impact changes in healthcare behaviors because they provide an indicator for providers as to what interventions should be implemented to improve behaviors. For instance, nurses may provide frequent and small incentives occurring close to the completion of healthy activities for encouraging healthy behaviors while also incorporating regular feedback throughout the program (AIA, 2014). Therefore, an essential behavioral cue is the lack of patients’ adherence to the established care plan. It will urge health providers to incentivize patients who are not motivated enough to follow the recommended plan of care.
As a patient, reinforcements represent a behavioral cue that one is the most likely to respond. Positive responses from patients are expected to occur when they are encouraged to engage in the promotion of health through an integrated care plan. The close collaboration between patients and their healthcare providers is expected to improve the process of care. For instance, nurses may create a system of incentives with realistic and achievable thresholds and rewards that link to positive health behaviors.
From the standpoint of insurance companies and providers, a behavioral cue such as the increased engagement of patients in their care process can be seen as an indicator of a patient who takes their health seriously. For providers and insurance companies, it is necessary that patients recognize the importance of the care process and the high levels of adherence to the developed plan of care. Increased engagement in the care process means lower costs for facilities and insurers in the long run. Therefore, health issues that have been identified and managed early tend to lead to lower expenses for organizations and patients.
Reference
AIA. (2014). The case of incentivizing health: Using behavioural economics to improve health and wellness. Web.