Application of Stages of Change Cycle

Running head: CHANGE CYCLE 1
Application of Stages of Change Cycle
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Running head: CHANGE CYCLE 2
Introduction
The Transtheoretical Model of Change (TMC) is an integrated biopsychosocial model
that intellectualizes the process of the intended action or objective in an orderly manner to
change the behavior of a person from unhealthy to healthy. The TMC focuses exclusively on
behavior change in a particular dimension to alter unhealthy lifestyles (Bully, Sánchez, Zabaleta-
del-Olmo Pombo, & Grandes, 2015). The stages of TMC includes; precontemplation stage,
contemplation stage, preparation stage, Action stage and Maintenance stage. Motivational
interviewing is significant in ensuring that people undergo the steps of change efficiently.
Motivational interviewing encompasses interpersonal processes to help patients change or
continue certain behaviors. The principles of motivational interviewing are essential for
empowering patients towards a particular practice. The principles of motivational interviewing
include; showing and expressing empathy, developing and supporting discrepancy, supporting
self-efficacy, dealing with resistance and promoting autonomy.
Transtheoretical Model of Change
Precontemplation
In the precontemplation stage, the patient has no intentions of acting due to fear or lack of
knowledge about the surgery or appropriate therapy he/she is recommended to undergo. In this
stage, people have a negative attitude towards changing their behaviors Alistair is worried about
his health due to the Total Knee Replacement (TKR) operation he is going to undergo, and he is
confused whether his overweight health status is responsible for his knee loss. Alistair's worries
show that he is not much ready for the operation and he thinks if he could have altered the eating
behaviors he could not be in such a painful situation. As the nurse in the orthopaedical ward, the

Running head: CHANGE CYCLE 3
advice I could offer to Alistair is to mobilize him on the importance of the operation because at
this stage the patient had no other option than to undergo surgery. At a pre-contemplation stage,
the patient requires only motivation because it is characterized by the patient's resistant, unready
for help and unmotivated (Lee, Park, & Min, 2015).
Contemplation
It is at this stage where a person intends to change his or her attitude towards the
correction of the behavior after six months. In this stage people begin to recognize that their
action may result in problems in future, but though they still feel that undecided towards altering
their behavior. In the contemplation stage, people weight between the advantages and
disadvantages of that may result from the behavioral change. At this stage, encouragement to
Alistair may mean some sense and can help him understand the importance of the knee
replacement. I would now start showing Alistair the importance of changing his eating behaviors
which accounted for his overweight (Knapen, Vancampfort, Moriën & Marchal, 2015).
Preparation
Generally, at this stage people start to take simple steps towards changing their behavior
and they also believe that if they change their lifestyles, it will lead to a future healthier life. In
this stage, people are determined to take the actual action within a short period (one month). For
the overweight individual at the preparation stage development plans for the action such as
counselor consultation, joining the gym and also holding talks with physician obesity physicians.
I could now start educating Alistair on the skills he would apply that will assist him to reduce
weight. I could also encourage and motivate him to undergo the operation while showing him the
ways that can fasten healing of the leg. Motivation would make him develop a positive attitude