Personal Behavior Change Research Articles

Using cognitive interviews to enhance measurement in empirical bioethics: Developing a measure of the preventive misconception in biomedical HIV prevention trials

Background: We describe our use of cognitive interviews in developing a measure of “preventive misconception” to demonstrate the importance of this approach to researchers developing surveys in empirical bioethics. The preventive misconception involves research participants' false beliefs about a prevention trial, including beliefs that the interventions being tested will certainly be effective. Methods: We developed and refined a measure of the preventive misconception using qualitative interviews that focused on cognitive testing of proposed survey items with HIV prevention trial participants. Results: Two main problems emerged during initial interviews. First, the phrase “reduce your risk,” used to elicit beliefs about risk reduction from the use of study medications, was interpreted as relating to a reduction of risky behaviors. Second, the phrase “participating in this study,” intended to elicit beliefs about trial group assignment, was interpreted as relating to personal behavior changes associated with study participation. Additional interviews using a revised measure were no longer problematic in these ways, and participants felt the response options were appropriate for conveying their answers. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of cognitive testing in developing surveys for empirical bioethics.

A Content Analysis of Undergraduate Students’ Perceived Reasons for Changes in Personal Leadership Behaviors

Leadership educators seek to understand how they can better develop leadership among their students through formal and informal course experiences. The purpose of this study was to understand how undergraduate students perceive reasons for changes in their leadership practices, after completing a personal leadership education course. The course focused on the five exemplary practices of college students. As part of the course, students completed the Student Leadership Practices Inventory (S-LPI) as a pre and post assessment. A qualitative content analysis of 107 undergraduate student reflections from multiple sections of a leadership course was conducted to examine students’ perceptions of what influenced their change in scores on the S-LPI assessment. Students perceived that the curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities of the course (including the high-impact service-learning project) affected their change in score for the leadership behavior(s) they intended to focus on throughout the semester. Students whose scores did not increase for the leadership behavior they chose to focus on still experienced leadership growth and development but attributed their growth to different items: their growth was in a different leadership behavior than intended or they developed a greater understanding of the five practices which affected their self-assessed score.

SOCIAL REABILITATION MODEL FOR TEENAGERS WITH DEVIANT BEHAVIOR IN CLOSED-TYPE INSTITUTIONS

The paper considers educational practices in the closed-type institutions for teenagers with deviations in legal, intellectual and psychoemotional behavior, and reveals a social rehabilitation model for this category of teenagers. The model is based on A. V. Petrovsky’s concept of the three phases of personality development in adolescence – adaptation, individualization and integration. The author presumes that any deviation in a teenager’s behavior increases as the result of negative experience, developed and retained in asocial surroundings. The goal of teaching staff in closed-type institutions is to transform the trend of deviant behavior into the normal attitude of social adaptation. The author emphasizes a need for positive experience of passing the above phases in friendly atmosphere with adequate behavior patterns. Preventive work implies the priority changes – i.e. the prevalence of the future over the past, self-determination (revision of goals, meanings, and attitudes to a free choice), reorientation from ≪I don’t want, I can’t, I don’t have to≫ to the positive connotations of ≪I have to, I can, I want≫. The paper denotes the methods and ways of pedagogical facilitation, relating to different phases of educational process, and provides a technique for regular monitoring of personal behavior changes, including the key evaluation positions and scales. The paper is addressed to the teaching staff involved in rehabilitation of teenagers with deviant behavior.

Health behaviors and perceptions of cancer survivors harvesting at an urban garden.

To gather information about perceptions of personal health behavior change in cancer survivors following participation in an urban gardening program. This qualitative study used focus groups of adult cancer survivors with an open-ended question thread format. Data were transcribed and analyzed by identifying, coding, and categorizing primary patterns/themes. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) greater dietary intake of produce; (2) improved mental and physical health; (3) enhanced sense of community and social support; and (4) challenges to long-term maintenance. Perceptions of positive behavior changes associated with harvesting at an urban garden targeting cancer survivors may inform future community and health promotion interventions aimed at improving adherence to evidence-based lifestyle behavior guidelines for cancer survivorship.

The Use of Motivational Interviewing in Physical Therapy Education and Practice: Empowering Patients Through Effective Self-Management

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSEIn 2012, the United States Department of Health and Human Services outlined a list of public health priorities related to cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, integumentary, and metabolic health. This document, known as Healthy People 2020, focuses on health conditions including heart disease and stroke, respiratory disease, arthritis, osteoporosis and chronic back conditions, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.1 As specialists in human movement and exercise, these issues are particularly pertinent to physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs), on account of limited physical activity being a common risk factor in the development of each of these health conditions.2,3 Sedentary behaviors are inherently linked to a significant burden of chronic disease and disability, as well as diminished health-related quality of life. The lack of appropriate levels of physical activity results in at least 300,000 cases of premature mortality and more than $90 billion in direct medical costs annually within the United States alone.4 Less than 5% of Americans currently meet the minimum recommendations of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day, and only 8% of adolescents and 45% of children meet recommendations for 60 minutes per day.5 Lack of exercise and the pervasiveness of a sedentary lifestyle represent a large unmet need for exercise promotion as a key strategy in chronic disease prevention and management.6 Given our level of professional knowledge and expertise, PTs and PTAs have a moral obligation to address the current health care crisis by empowering individuals to assume an active role in health promotion and wellness through changes in personal behaviors. This role is reflected by the American Physical Therapy Associations revised Vision Statement for the Physical Therapy Profession,7 adopted in 2013-transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience-and is consistent with guiding principles enabling PTs and PTAs to achieve this vision through the prevention and treatment of impairments, activity limitations, and restrictions related to movement, function, and health.Most people are aware that exercise is good for their health; however, an inability to overcome ambivalence and perceived barriers to an active lifestyle can interfere with participation in physical activity. While advice and personalized exercise prescription can be helpful, further consideration of additional factors is warranted. These factors often involve an individuals readiness to change, his or her interest in pursuing improved health and fitness, and a belief in his or her capacity to engage in new behaviors.8 Therefore, it is essential that PTs and PTAs possess not only the expertise to prescribe and administer the correct exercises, but the knowledge and skill to encourage individual motivation in establishing lifelong health habits known to reduce the risk of morbidity, disability, and premature mortality. PTs and PTAs can achieve these goals by working collaboratively. By including an assessment of the patients readiness to change as part of the initial patient interview and follow-up evaluations, the PT can determine the best approach for empowering patients in choosing healthy behaviors. The PTA can further these goals by working with the PT in applying appropriate evidence-based strategies that engender and support these changes.Motivational interviewing (MI) is a patient-centered approach to promoting changes in personal health behaviors, including improved nutrition, weight loss, and physical activity.9 Professional training in the use of MI and associated patient education methods can improve PT and PTA skill level and self-confidence in helping patients recognize the importance of behavioral risks. Through the use of motivational interviewing, PTs can assess an individuals readiness to change, deliver tailored patient education, and empower patients and clients to play an active role in self-management. …

Developing Global Educators and Intercultural Competence Through an International Teaching Practicum in Kenya

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore the extent and nature of changes in personal and professional behaviors, values, and attitudes of 46 Canadian teacher candidates who participated in a three week teaching practicum in Kenya. All participants completed a pre and post practicum Global-Mindedness Survey (Hett, 1993), participated in interviews, and engaged in personal and public reflections. Our results suggest that the Kenyan practicum significantly increased the teacher candidates’ global-mindedness and intercultural competence. The teacher candidates’ teaching practice was positively affected as reflected in their increased commitment to build community, improved skills in teaching English language learners, their ability to globalize the curriculum, and their confidence in the realization that they were their own greatest teaching resource. We theorize planned transformative learning opportunities during the cultural immersion of international practicums can greatly enhance the intercultural competence of teachers in today’s diverse classrooms.

“We don’t tell people what to do”: An examination of the factors influencing NGO decisions to campaign for reduced meat consumption in light of climate change

To date, efforts by non-governmental organizations to encourage reduced meat consumption in light of climate change have been quite limited, particularly among environmental non-governmental organizations. This study sought to examine the factors influencing non-governmental organization decisions to establish and sustain dedicated public education and/or policy advocacy campaigns on this issue. More specifically, a grounded theory approach was used to examine environmental, food-focused, and animal protection non-governmental organizations in the U.S., Sweden, and Canada. Results indicate that the relatively limited degree of engagement is primarily attributable to the fact that few non-governmental organization staffers felt that addressing meat consumption within a climate change context was a part of their core missions. Reduced meat consumption was also seen as an issue with limited social and political appeal. Further, many environmental non-governmental organizations appeared to be reluctant to mount campaigns explicitly encouraging personal behavior change of any type. Cross- non-governmental organization collaboration or the creation of additional non-governmental organizations with missions focused on this specific issue may be needed to increase the level of campaigning on this issue.

Practical considerations in the design and development of smartphone apps for behavior change

The fast adoption of smartphone applications (apps) by behavioral scientists pose a new host of opportunities as well as knowledge and interdisciplinary challenges. Therefore, this brief report will discuss the lessons we have learned during the development and testing of smartphone apps for behavior change, and provide the reader with guidance and recommendations about this design and development process. We hope that the guidance and perspectives presented in this brief report will empower behavioral scientists to test the efficacy of smartphone apps for behavior change, further advance the contextual behavioral etiology of behavioral disorders and help move the field towards personalized behavior change technologies.

After the Resolution

As the New Year approaches, men are busy reflecting on the previous year’s goals and accomplishments. This reflection typically results in culturally based traditions of establishing New Year’s resolutions. These resolutions are our established goals and aspirations for ourselves during the New Year. Health-related resolutions are typically among the most common resolutions established. The New Year is well underway with a fourth of the year gone. How are you doing? How are your patients and clients doing with their resolved goals and aspirations? Remember, time spent planning is never time lost. A recommendation to ensure continual progression toward the achievement of your or your patient’s professional and/or personal New Year’s resolution requires a clear plan of action with definitive expected outcomes. Plans of personal behavior change should include a broad goal that identifies the expected state, that is, in respect to health-related goals, the expected outcome or result of the activities. Once a goal is established, it is best to divide the goal in to SMART objectives. These SMART objectives, once accomplished, ensure that you or your client is closer to establishing your goal. SMART objectives are Specific, Measurable, Action oriented, Relevant, and Time bound. These SMART objectives can then further be broken down into strategic actions that are quantified and time bound. Our progression into the second quarter of 2014 provides us with a time of formative reflection to get back on track with our New Year’s resolution, start a resolution, or if you have achieved your resolution, establish a change or extension in your plan. Clinicians are encouraged to take advantage of cultural traditions such as resolution setting to positively influence a client’s health-related behaviors. This can be done by having a discussion with a client about their New Year’s resolutions. These resolutions can be discussed within the context of the client’s current health status and the health care provider and the client can work on establishing mutual health related goals. From these goals, SMART objectives can be integrated into the client’s plan of care and serve as a foundation of expected healthrelated behaviors to review at each subsequent visit. So, as we progress into this second quarter, it is a great time to either personally reflect on our resolutions or use this as a temporal opportunity to establish health-related goals for yourself or your clients. 522089 JMHXXX10.1177/1557988314522089American Journal of Men’s HealthPorche research-article2014

The Role of the Media in the Construction of Public Belief and Social Change

The media play a central role in informing the public about what happens in the world, particularly in those areas in which audiences do not possess direct knowledge or experience. This article examines the impact the media has in the construction of public belief and attitudes and its relationship to social change. Drawing on findings from a range of empirical studies, we look at the impact of media coverage in areas such as disability, climate change and economic development. Findings across these areas show the way in which the media shape public debate in terms of setting agendas and focusing public interest on particular subjects. For example, in our work on disability we showed the relationship between negative media coverage of people on disability benefit and a hardening of attitudes towards them. Further, we found that the media also severely limit the information with which audiences understand these issues and that alternative solutions to political problems are effectively removed from public debate. We found other evidence of the way in which media coverage can operate to limit understanding of possibilities of social change. In our study of news reporting of climate change, we traced the way that the media have constructed uncertainty around the issue and how this has led to disengagement in relation to possible changes in personal behaviours. Finally, we discuss the implications for communications and policy and how both the traditional and new media might help in the development of better informed public debate.

Lay Theories of Gender Identity Disorder

This study examined lay theories regarding gender identity disorder (GID). Pilot interviews were completed with participants (n = 10) regarding their views on possible causes and treatments of GID. Participants (mainly young British people and students; n = 124) then completed a questionnaire that was based on the interviews and a review of the salient literature on lay theories. As hypothesized, participants believed most in biomedical causes and treatments of GID. Factor analysis (with varimax rotation) identified 4 factors in relation to causes of GID: upbringing and personal factors, pregnancy and brain abnormalities, environmental factors, and biomedical causes. Five factors that were identified in relation to the cure/treatment of GID were psychological assistance and personal factors, extreme medical and behavioral changes, alternative therapies, external factors, and medical treatments. The results indicated that participants neither agreed nor strongly disagreed about causes and cures regarding GID, but that these beliefs were logically related. Limitations, particularly of sampling, were considered.

“I'll Squeeze It In”: Transforming Preservice Classroom Teachers' Perceptions Toward Movement Integration in Schools

A program titled Physical Education Programming Infusion (PEPI) was incorporated into a required science methods course for preservice classroom teachers (PCTs). Using the transformative learning theory and the social ecological model, the authors examined changes in PCTs' personal health behaviors and perceived barriers toward movement integration (MI) in schools. Thirty-two PCTs participated in the 30-minute weekly PEPI for one semester. Interviews were conducted with 10 PCTs at the end of the PEPI. The PCTs became more aware of and made changes to their lifestyles through participation in PEPI. Although PCTs perceived the presence of organizational barriers in implementing MI, they consistently believed in the benefits of MI. Helping PCTs to become aware of and make changes to their lifestyles will strengthen their beliefs as prospective agents of change in the health and well-being of their students.

Missing the wood for the trees: systemic defects and the future of education for sustainable development

The division in approaches to education for sustainable development (ESD) as described by Vare and Scott is revisited. A strong bias in ESD towards personal behaviour change and aspirations to ‘making a difference’ (ESD1) is contrasted with systems level or more creative and critial approaches (ESD2). The lack of balance is further revealed when a critical eye is cast on familiar ideas such as recycling, efficiency saving (energy), ‘small steps add up’, reducing consumption, etc. Some ideas/contexts identified as central are identified as not discussed at all until very recently, e.g. the role of money created as debt. The suggestion is made that although exploring values is said to be of importance in ESD this does not extend to the underlying values represented by linear/mechanistic worldviews in contrast to a more contemporary systems worldview. The evidence is that teaching of many of the most familiar topics or themes is resolutely based on a linear worldview and thus fails badly and continually on a simple intellectual level. ESD is a prime candidate if ever there was one for what is essentially a systems perspective and an ESD which hardly touches this base is incomplete – being heavily biased towards social and environmental contexts to the downplaying of the economic – and is badly in need of review. The author%s personal journey away from ESD as commonly understood – despite 20 years of work in the arena – towards the broader discussion now described as the circular economy, is summarised.

Evaluation of a peer-led hypertension intervention for veterans: impact on peer leaders

Volunteer peer leaders (PLs) benefit from their involvement in health interventions but we know little about how they compare with other non-PL volunteers or with the intervention recipients themselves. We randomized 58 veterans' service organizations' posts (e.g. VFW) to peer- versus professionally led self-management support interventions. Our primary research questions were whether hypertensive PLs changed over the course of the project, whether they changed more than hypertensive volunteers who were not randomized to such a role [i.e. post representatives (PRs)] and whether they changed more than the intervention recipients with respect to health knowledge, health beliefs and health outcomes from baseline to 12 months. After the intervention, PLs provided open-ended feedback and participated in focus groups designed to explore intervention impact. Hypertensive PLs improved their systolic blood pressure and hypertension knowledge and increased their fruit/vegetable intake and pedometer use. We found no differences between PLs and PRs. PLs improved knowledge and increased fruit/vegetable intake more than intervention recipients did; they provided specific examples of personal health behavior change and knowledge acquisition. Individuals who volunteer to be peer health leaders are likely to receive important benefits even if they do not actually take on such a role.

Abenomics: Japan's New Economic Policy Package

ABSTRACT.This paper addresses Japan's economy, its new economic policy package, and the new term - Abenomics - that is used to describe the three pillars, or arrows, of the Abe government's focus on the Japanese economy and on economic policy. The term Abenomics is an example of brilliant branding. At the same time it is risky, since it implies Prime Minister Abe's success or failure will depend on the success or failure of Abenomics. This paper makes three major points. First, it is far too early to tell whether Abenomics will be successful - in ending deflation, bringing about price stability and getting the economy onto a stable, full employment growth path. Second, perhaps the most important change is the shift in people's feelings about Japan's future, from resignation to optimistic hope. However it is not at all clear that this new mindset will become deeply engrained and sustained. Third, we should distinguish between Abe as Prime Minister and Abenomics.JEL codes: E61; F42; G28Keywords: Japan; Abenomics; price stability; employment growthThis paper addresses Japan's economy, its new economic policy package, and the new term - Abenomics - that is used to describe the three pillars, or arrows, of the Abe government's focus on the Japanese economy and on economic policy. The term Abenomics is an example of brilliant branding. At the same time it is risky, since it implies Prime Minister Abe's success or failure will depend on the success or failure of Abenomics. Before going into more detail, this paper makes three major points.First, it is far too early to tell whether Abenomics will be successful - in ending deflation, bringing about price stability and getting the economy onto a stable, full employment growth path. The initial evidence is certainly positive, but there is a long way to go.Second, perhaps the most important change is the shift in people's feelings about Japan's future, from resignation - sho ga nai - to optimistic hope. Revitalization is a somewhat strange term, especially regarding the economy, but that is one catch word that is being used. Economists use the term expectations, but what is going on is deeper than that. This optimism is propelled in large part because many Japanese are sick and tired of the malaise of the past two decades, and have been eager to buy into Abenomics, probably a lot more than buying into Abe himself as an outstanding leader. However it is not at all clear that this new mindset will become deeply engrained and sustained.Third, we should distinguish between Abe and Abenomics. It is possible that both will succeed. Or it is possible that Abe will fail as Prime Minister but that his successor will embrace the Abenomics economic policy program, and forward momentum will continue. Or, the three arrow package will not be implemented sufficiently well, and Abenomics and Abe will fail. But that does not mean the end of Japan. Japan will muddle through once again; it is quite experienced and good at that.It is easy to label Japan as having suffered from its so-called two lost decades. In a broad sense that is true - modest but pernicious deflation, inadequate domestic demand, mediocre growth below potential, weak labor markets and a widespread sense of malaise. Over the period growth has been volatile - recessions, recoveries, growth, the sharp decline in 2009 as the global Great Recession hit all high income countries, Japan's partial recovery and then slide back to modest recession again in 2012, and now rapid recovery - at least this year.But that is too simple a statement of what has been going on in Japan over the past two decades.First, there has been a great deal of change in institutions, organizations, corporate and personal behavior, generational values, and various other changes below the radar screen. Japan is quite different today from 20 years ago.Second, the demographic realities of a declining labor force since 1995 and now declining population have already had a big effect and will continue to have a big effect; and they provide lessons for Korea and China as well as Europe. …

Garden-Based Learning: An Experience With “At Risk” Secondary Education Students

The reengagement of disenchanted secondary students is one of the priorities of the educational system. Over a six-year period (2003–2004 to 2008–2009), 63 disruptive and low-performance secondary school students were integrated into a two-year garden-based learning program, which took place in southeastern Spain. This article intends to assess the quantitative and qualitative changes in both academic outcomes and personal behavior brought about by the experience. Results show that school failure decreased substantially, while the dropout rate was reduced from an initial 30% to zero in some years. Disruptive episode control improved significantly in the classroom, where teachers observed a decided improvement in students' skills, self-esteem, and self-confidence.

A randomised control trial of experiential learning to promote physical activity

The paucity of training in physical activity (PA) promotion in UK medical schools is a barrier to health professionals' promotion of PA to their patients. Doctors who are more physically active are more likely to counsel patients in this regard. We used a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to examine the effect of an intervention which engaged students in goal-setting, using pedometer step counts, on their PA behaviour and intentions to promote PA in future practice. We invited fourth-year medical students to participate in the study during their four-week placement in primary care. Following baseline pedometer measurement of daily step counts for one week, students were randomly allocated to intervention (individual step count goal-setting) or control groups. Using pedometers, both groups monitored their PA during the following week. Intentions to promote PA were assessed using a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behaviour at baseline, four weeks and nine weeks. Focus groups explored the students' experiences of PA measurement, goalsetting for behaviour change and health promotion teaching. One-hundred and thirty-six students participated (70 intervention; 66 control). The mean change in daily step count was greater ( P =0.001) in the intervention group (1245, 95% CI 762 to 1727) than in the control group (-65, 95% CI -644 to 573). Scores for perceived behavioural control over PA counselling increased in both groups, with a trend for higher scores in the intervention group. Intervention group students described how experience of personal PA behaviour change gave insights into barriers patients may face and improved their confidence in PA counselling. Medical students' personal experience of goal setting in increasing PA appears to lead to a more positive perception of their ability to deliver effective PA promotion in future practice. Inclusion of this learning experience within the undergraduate curriculum may improve doctors' skills in health promotion.

La Teoría como Promotor para el Desarrollo de Intervenciones Psicoambientales

One of the activities of psychology is to promote positive change in personal behavior. This article show the usefulness of the theory for behavior change through design effective messages to behavioral change and development programs of psychosocial intervention. The theoretical model focuses in factors of behavioral changing: self-efficacy, skills, disposition and intention (MAHDI). The article describes the theory, shows how they can be applied to the selection environmental behavior, as well as their appropriate application in complementary intervention strategies that includes needs analysis, development and piloting program, applicability, social marketing and evaluation. Finally, how the theory can contribute to design youth intervention programs is discussed.

Change Illness Beliefs with Biofeedback and Somatic Feedback

The Health Belief Model proposes that medical treatment and patient self-care plans need to be congruent with the client's illness beliefs. When the client's illness attributions are compatible, the client is more likely to comply with both medical treatment and self-care. The authors emphasize the internal versus external locus of control dimension in illness attributions. Clients may believe that the illness is outside of personal control and that only external treatment such as surgery or medication will help. With such beliefs in place, the client is unlikely to be open to a regimen emphasizing self-regulation and personal behavioral changes. The authors propose that biofeedback and somatic feedback exercises provide effective tools for changing illness attributions and awaken the client to the impact of thoughts and emotions on physiology. A case study and a description of a somatic feedback exercise illustrate the approach.

Predictors of malaria-association with rubber plantations in Thailand

BackgroundThe national Global Fund-supported malaria (GFM) program in Thailand, which focuses on the household-level implementation of vector control via insecticide-treated nets (ITNs)/long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) combined with indoor residual spraying (IRS), has been combating malaria risk situations in different provinces with complex epidemiological settings. By using the perception of malaria villagers (MVs), defined as villagers who recognized malaria burden and had local understanding of mosquitoes, malaria, and ITNs/LLINs and practiced preventive measures, this study investigated the predictors for malaria that are associated with rubber plantations in an area of high household-level implementation coverage of IRS (2007–2010) and ITNs/LLINs (2008–2010) in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.MethodsA structured questionnaire addressing socio-demographics, household characteristics and health behavioral factors (knowledge, perceptions and practices) regarding the performed interventions was administered to the 313 households (70 malaria-affected and 243 malaria-unaffected) that had respondents aged ≥18 years of both genders. In the univariate and multivariate analyses, only 246 (78.6%) MV respondents (62 malaria-affected and 184 malaria-unaffected) were analyzed to determine the predictors for risk (morbidity).ResultsThe majority (70%) of households were covered by IRS. For a combination of ITNs/LLINs, there were 74% of malaria-affected households covered and 46% of malaria-unaffected households. In a logistic regression analysis using odds ratios (aORs) adjusted on the variables and a 95% confidence interval (CI), malaria affecting MVs was associated with daily worker (i.e., earning daily income by normally practicing laborious activities mostly in agriculture such as rubber tapping and rubber sheet processing at the smallholdings of rubber plantations) (aOR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.1-7.4), low-moderate level of malaria knowledge (aOR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.1-5.0) and sleeping under mosquito-nets (nets/ITNs/LLINs intermittently and ITNs/LLINs only) (aOR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.0-3.7).ConclusionsThe MV predictors for malaria-association with rubber plantations included occupation (daily worker), misconceptions about malaria (mosquito and prevention) and the use of mosquito-nets. Human practices such as revisiting rubber plantations while exposed to multiple bites at multiple locations are more likely to apply to daily workers than to rubber farmers/tappers and others. The promotion and use of ITNs/LLINs depends substantially on cultural factors and defensive behaviors relevant to their occupational risk despite the perceived threats of malaria and the perceived benefits of ITNs/LLINs. This information supports the conclusion that GFM program implementation in Thailand or elsewhere for malaria-associated with rubber plantations would benefit from the potential use of ITNs/LLINs and changes in personal protection behaviors.