Posted: January 31st, 2023

Social Cognitive Theory

respond substantively to at least TWO of your classmates’ posts. Do not just “agree”. This means that you should be continuing the discussion, adding to your classmate’s argument, asking questions, and/or providing an alternative viewpoint. Minimum of 50 words.

Week 3 Discussion

Social Cognitive Theory

Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) says that a person’s behavior can be changed by both inside and outside factors. SCT shows how behavior, environment, and personal/cognitive factors affect and interact with each other to shape human behavior (Viswanath, 2015). SCT is used to help people learn and do things that are good for their health. Self-efficacy, collective efficacy, outcome expectations, and knowledge are all examples of personal and cognitive factors that affect behavior. Observational learning, normative beliefs, social support, and barriers or opportunities are all environmental factors that affect behavior. Behavior skills, intentions, and reinforcement/punishment are all part of the behavioral factors.
If I wanted to get more people at my university to get a flu shot every year, I would use the concepts of knowledge, social support, and observational learning to make an intervention. I would use media campaigns (through the university’s social media and mass emails to students from the student health center) and poster boards in classrooms to get the word out about how important the flu shot is and where you can get it. I would also use these campaigns to encourage social support by showing how the campus community supports getting the flu shot. For example, I would use videos of students encouraging their fellow students to get the flu shot. Lastly, I would set up flu vaccine stations all over campus with the help of the student wellness center. This would make it easier for people to get the vaccine and also help them learn from what they see. When other students see other students getting the vaccine, it might make them more likely to get the vaccine themselves.
References
Viswanath, K.G.B.K.R. K. (2015). Health Behavior: Theory, Research, and Practice (5th ed.). Wiley Professional Development (P&T). https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781118629055

WK3 DQ1. Social Cognitive Theory

Social Cognitive Theory
To increase the number of individuals receiving an annual flu shot in a workplace using the Social Cognitive Theory, I would base my intervention around the following three constructs: knowledge, barriers/opportunities, and reinforcements.

First, the knowledge construct can be thought of as how well a person understands the risks and benefits of their own health behaviors. (Glanz et al, 2015) I would put the flu death and illness rates for the state and regional areas on flyers and informational emails that I would send to everyone at work. These epidemiological statistics would be used to show how much an annual flu shot can help and how important it is.

The second thing I would do is get rid of any travel obstacles and make it possible for employees to get their annual flu shot at work, with help from a local hospital or health department. By giving flu shots at work, employees don’t have to spend extra time driving or stopping. Instead, they can take a 10-minute paid break to get the shot. The flu shots would have a small effect on productivity, but the overall benefits of having more employees get vaccinated would be worth it.

The last concept this intervention will talk about is using reinforcement. As was already said, workers will get an extra 10-minute paid break to get their flu shot. This is to make sure that they are paid for their time and effort. As an incentive to get the flu shot, an extra day off will be given. Once the employee gets the shot, they will be able to send proof of immunization to the HR department for approval. Once that is done, they will get an extra day off of work.

I think that these three ideas will work well together to make a way to get more employees to get the flu shot.

References
Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (2015). Health behavior: Theory, research, and Practice (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass.