The transtheoretical model and primary care: "The Times They Are A Changin'".
OBJECTIVE
To identify the transtheoretical model and the five stages of change that assist to bring about behavioral change. A case study is presented to illustrate how the model can be applied by primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) to assist patients toward a healthier lifestyle.


METHODS
Scientific literature, theoretical framework, and case study.


CONCLUSIONS
The transtheoretical model has implications in primary care to assist NPs in assessing what stage a patient may be in, offering encouragement to promote a healthier lifestyle change, and reassessing the patient to maintain the desired healthy behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary care NPs can use the transtheoretical model to better advance patients into a healthy behavioral change. Documentation of the current stage a patient is in can promote continuity of care among providers, outline specific health promotion initiatives to enhance patient care, and provide documentation during regulatory inspections.
Singer
Ethan A
EA
Emergency Department, Catskill Regional Medical Center, Callicoon, New York, USA. dsinger@ptd.net
D001294:Attitude to Health; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004282:Documentation; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D009737:Nursing Records; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology