Discussion Questions

A. What is meant by ‘precision medicine’? Are there limitations to the use of this approach?

B. Describe the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) in the assessment of mental health disturbances? Is this approach a viable one in relation to precision medicine or is it simply a pipe dream?

C. Explain the one percent doctrine and its advantage(s)/disadvantage(s). Are you in favour of this doctrine being implemented in relation to health threats such as pandemic emergence? Why?

D. List the five stages of change within the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) and provide an example of a behaviour associated with each. Do you see this as a viable approach to produce behavioural change?

E. Many of our counterproductive health behaviours are well-entrenched having been adopted from an early age. In light of this, is it feasible to endorse programmes to change behaviours in an effort to diminish health risks? If not, then why not?

F. Multiple approaches have been proposed to produce behavioural change. If your opinion was sought as to which strategy should be adopted, which would you recommend? Would this recommendation be dependent on the nature of the situation and the behavioural change being considered or is there a ‘one size fits all’ approach that would be most effective?

G. There is much to be said about the one percent doctrine. In some ways it makes good sense, but in other ways it could lead to some very negative outcomes. Under what specific circumstances would it be appropriate or inappropriate to act on this strategy?

H. Turn the clock back to when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak. If a vaccine had been developed at that time, would you have been willing to be vaccinated? Explain why or why not. If you chose to be vaccinated, whereas your best friend did not, what strategies could you use to have your reluctant friend change their mind (and their behaviour)? Offering them a bribe is not an option.