Using the transtheoretical model to facilitate behavior change in patients with chronic illness.

Nurse practitioners spend a considerable amount of time encouraging patients with chronic illness to acquire positive behaviors such as exercising and self-monitoring, and to stop negative behaviors like smoking and intake of foods high in fat. These lifestyle changes can be facilitated through use of the transtheoretical model of stages and processes of behavior change. The significance is that it assists health care providers in developing interventions that are specifically focused for the patient depending on stage of readiness to change. The application of the model in the practice setting is discussed, and a specific example of activities developed for use in patients with asthma is given. The protocols can be adapted for any patient who needs to make lifestyle behavior changes.