Applying exercise stage of change to a low-income underserved population.
OBJECTIVE
To validate the transtheoretical model for exercise behavior and the constructs of decisional balance and self-efficacy for exercise in a low-income, poorly educated primary care sample.


METHODS
Patients attending public primary-care clinics from 4 separate sites in Louisiana were interviewed regarding their health behaviors.


RESULTS
The data provide equivocal support for applying the transtheoretical model for exercise and integrating it with other models of behavior change within this population.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies modifying the decisional balance measures are necessary before definitive statements regarding the applicability of these models to exercise within this specialized population can be made.
Carmack Taylor
Cindy L
CL
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Behavioral Science, Houston, TX 77030-4095, USA. ccarmack@mdanderson.org
Boudreaux
Edwin D
ED
Jeffries
Shawn K
SK
Scarinci
Isabel C
IC
Brantley
Phillip J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D035841:Behavioral Research; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires