Evaluating the different health behaviors is the number one approach to collecting, analyzing, and interpreting the information regarding population health patterns. The measurement provides reliable estimates of the national state of the behaviors and the possible changes that may occur. Consequently, these results are powerful in making informed decisions regarding the delivery of the population’s ideal health standards as well as reduction of the mortality rates among the patients. This paper aims to explore the importance of measuring health behaviors, methods, and opinions on the nature of the progress.
Importance of Measuring Health Behaviors
Measuring of health behaviors has proved to have many positive impacts on improving the health of the global population. First, the approach has continued to provide detailed and accurate information regarding the community’s prevalence of the condition. The collected and analyzed figures may be used to make informed decisions on correcting the health challenges experienced (Smith et al., 2018). Moreover, measuring health behaviors has a powerful effect in educating the public on adopting appropriate lifestyles and policies. Through such measuring, scientists can determine the major causes of stroke, heart disease, and injuries. The collection of such important data will have a powerful effect in developing long-lasting solutions to the varied types of ailments that have been identified. Furthermore, the population behavior’s determination has a powerful effect in promoting program planning and evaluation (Moore et al., 2015). The estimates of the prevalence rates of the varied behavioral risk factors can be used to compare the changes in health care delivery and set the ideal priorities. Finally, it is through measuring the health behaviors that may help health care providers deliver long-lasting solutions to the challenges affecting society. The measurement has the power of discovering the prevalence rate of diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and excessive alcohol use.
Two Methods of Measuring Smoking Behaviors among Adolescents in the Community
Presently, there are a number of methods that can be used to measure the smoking behaviors among adolescents in the community. The first and most common method that can be utilized is a sampling technique. The researcher may use various sampling approaches such as stratified, probability, or snowball sampling techniques to collect the information and measure of the smoking behaviors in a given population (Chriqui et al., 2013). The mechanisms may use face-to-face, mail, or web approaches to carry out the process. The data collected will be perfectly analyzed and interpreted to help achieve long-lasting solutions to society’s smoking challenges. The second most common mode that can help measure smoking in adolescents is the use of surveys. The application of the assessment approaches has the power of providing ideal data that can be used to determine the state of the population. Surveys can also be conducted through a face-to-face approach or the application of the computer-assisted telephone interview software (Mokdad & Remington, 2010). The study design often takes care of the varied aspects of the population such as age, sex and family background of the suspected smoking population. These two approaches have been adopted in my community since they are less expensive, reliable, and accurate in delivering the results. Finally, both the surveys and sampling methods can deliver community-specific data on the state of smoking, hence making it more reasonable to make the right decisions. As a result of these powerful implications, the two approaches have continued to be adopted in determining the rate of smoking among adolescents.
My Opinion Regarding the Idea of Measuring Health Behavior
I believe that it is a reasonable idea to measure the health behaviors of a varied population. In most cases, the measurement results have managed to reveal some of the secrets about the health of local population. For instance, a health behavior measurement conducted in 2018 revealed that over 60% of Americans were highly susceptible to developing cardiovascular disease and obesity (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). The above discovery was attributed to the low level of physical activity as well as poor eating habits. According to the study results, it was noted that a majority of Americans are fond of taking fatty and junky meals. At the same time, they do not engage in any physical activity. As a result, they were highly capable of developing such a form of complication in their lives.
Conclusion
The provision of the above results was a reasonable call for Americans to change their lifestyle. In fact, the Ministry of Health had to set down well-established policies and guidelines regarding the appropriate foods that people should adopt to reduce such conditions. They proposed that people continue eating less fatty and sugary meals to help them achieve the required health standards. Furthermore, one of their recommendations was to adopt an active lifestyle that would help most members reduce weight. It is possible that such discoveries were made through the measurement of health behavior. Therefore, it is a noble idea for society to adopt the mechanisms to provide health-related decisions.
References
Chriqui, J., Resnick, E., Schneider, L., Schermbeck, R., Adcock, T., Carrion, V., & Chaloupka, F. (2013). School district wellness policies: Evaluating progress and potential for improving children’s health five years after the federal mandate.
Mokdad, A. H., & Remington, P. L. (2010). Measuring health behaviors in populations. Preventing Chronic Disease, 7(4), A75. Web.
Moore, G. F., Audrey, S., Barker, M., Bond, L., Bonell, C., Hardeman, W. & Baird, J. (2015). Process evaluation of complex interventions: Medical Research Council Guidance. BMI 350, H1258. Web.
Smith, R. A., Andrews, K. S., Brooks, D., Fedewa, S. A., Manassaram‐Baptiste, D., Saslow, D., & Wender, R. C. (2018). Cancer screening in the United States, 2018: A review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and current issues in cancer screening. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 68(4), 297-316. Web.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Developing process evaluation questions.Web.