Transtheoretical Model of Change: Encouraging Health Behavior Change

Running Head: TRANSTHEORETICAL MODEL OF CHANGE
TRANSTHEORETICAL MODEL OF CHANGE
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TRANSTHEORETICAL MODEL OF CHANGE
1
Transtheoretical model of change is referred to as the model of intentional change and is
primarily focusses on the decision making ability of individual. This model helps to change the
behavior of an individual which is problematic and can harm in future (proc, Huck & Olsson,
2017). This essay focusses on the case studying if Harry who is a 58 year old person admitted to
the hospital due to a hip replacement surgery. Harry is overweight but does not intends to change
his health behaviors and ignores the consequences of obesity even after the practitioner has stated
that it can impact negatively on his physical health. Therefore, the primary purpose of the essay is
to motivate or encourage the patient to involve in the transtheoretical model of change to change
their health behavior. The essay includes the role of motivational interviewing in encouraging the
patient to change his health behavior.
According to Prochaska, Redding and Evers (2015), Transtheoretical model is developed
and designed by Prochaska and DiClemente in the year 1970 by critically examining the
individual who are ready to change their life style. It comprises of six stages which include,
Precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance and termination (Friman,
Huck & Olsson, 2015). This model is often used in the healthcare setting by the nurse to provide
a framework work for the person's readiness to change the life style and health behavior.
By critically reviewing the case reading of Harry who is a 58 year old man who has been
taken to hospital for the hip replacement surgery. Upon assessing the patient health condition it is
noted that the patient is overweight and weighs 165 kg. By interviewing the patient, it is observed
that he is a chef and instead of knowing that his weight might impact negatively on his physical
health, he is not ready to change his behavior and life style as he loves food and likes to be around
food all day.

TRANSTHEORETICAL MODEL OF CHANGE
2
The first period of the model is the precontemplation stage, person at this stage do not
want to gain achievement in the future. Individual at this phase are either unaware of the negative
consequences of the unhealthy life style or even after knowing that ignores the consequences.
Such individual instead of focusing on the pros of the changing the health behavior individual at
these stage focus more on the disadvantages of the health performance modification (Saunders et
al., 2016). Harry is at the contemplation stage as he is aware of the consequences but due to lack
of confidence does not want to change his life style. As the obesity of the patient can also hamper
his post-surgery care and can lead to adverse effect such as pressure injury, it is important to
motivate or encourage the patient to change his diet behavior. Patient is encouraged and motivated
with the help of motivational interviewing to change his life style.
Motivational interviewing is demarcated as one of the most efficient method used by
health care staff to motivate or encourage the patient to modify their diet behavior (Morton et al.,
2015). It is a client centered approach where the patient us motivated by counselling with the help
of principles of the motivational interviewing. Here in this essay, Harry is motivated by the nurses
to modify his behavior by the help of motivational interviewing techniques. As the patient is on
the first phase of the model, he is at first acknowledged about the consequences of obesity in his
health. Nurse should create awareness regarding the adverse impacts of obesity as it can give rise
to other chronic illness. Obesity is considered as one of the major risk factor for many chronic
illnesses such as diabetes (Bray et al., 2017). The patient is motivated by expressing empathy
towards the patient with the aid of reflective listening. Nurse should acknowledge him about the
positive effects of changing his life style and diet behavior.
The nurse should motivate the patient to reach the contemplation phase of the
transtheoretical phase of model. In this stage, the individual having the unhealthy life style intends