Powerlessness as a factor in health defeating behavior.

Lack of compliance in prevention and treatment of illness and disease continues to perplex healthcare practitioners. Sixty percent of patients take their medications incorrectly. Patients miss appointments, they do not follow up with treatments, and many times require an avoidable hospitalization directly related to health defeating behaviours. Many healthcare clinicians believe the reason for this could be issues such as basic intellectual level, convenience, cost, side effects, or one's value system. However, these may not be the only factors in lack of compliance. The purpose of this paper is to discuss powerlessness as a factor in health defeating behaviors. Powerlessness as a Third World behavior will be described in detail along with methods to identify these behavioral patterns. Paternalism will be described as a threat to Third World groups and their healthcare. An increased awareness and sensitivity to the needs of this special group may improve health promoting behaviors. The LEARN Model will be discussed as a framework for empowering otherwise powerless individuals and groups through improved communication and understanding.