A client tells the nurse that his illness is a result of his failure t

A client tells the nurse that his illness is a result of his failure to “live a good life.” The nurse rec-ognizes this statement as an example of the client’s:

1. Risk factor
2. Health belief
3. Illness behavior
4. Negative health behavior

ANSWER

ANS: 2
Health beliefs are a person’s ideas, convictions, and attitudes about health and illness.
A risk factor is any situation, habit, social or environmental condition, physiological or psycho-logical condition, developmental or intellectual condition, or spiritual or other variable that in-creases the vulnerability of an individual or group to an illness or accident.
Illness behavior is the unique manner in which a client reacts to illness.
Negative health behaviors include practices actually or potentially harmful to health, such as smoking, drug or alcohol abuse, poor diet, and refusal to take necessary medications.