Annotated Bibliography- Stages of Change Model

Bosworth, Olsen, & Zimmerman (March 1, 2000). American Academy of Family Physicians A 'Stages of Change' Approach to Helping Patients Change Behavior. Am Fam Physician 2000;61:1409-16.

The role of the family physician is to assist the family in understanding their health and the necessary steps involved in making healthy changes. Patients most often understand lifestyle changes such as; needing to reduce the fat in the diet in order to control weight, but consistent, life-long behavior changes are difficult. There are different change theories and models that are very useful in addressing lifestyle modifications. The Stages of Change model is especially useful to the family practice setting.

The Stages of Change models shows that most people display change gradually starting from being unaware of a change needed or being unwilling to make a change (precontemplation stage) to considering a change (contemplation stage). At the contemplation stage a person will show willingness and open minded behavior that allows the necessary steps for change to take place. During this long process relapses may take place but to be considered part of the changing processing and not overshadow the growth that has been achieved, and to know that eventually the change becomes permanent.

References

Bosworth, Olsen, & Zimmerman (March 1, 2000). American Academy of Family Physicians A 'Stages of Change' Approach to Helping Patients Change Behavior. Am Fam Physician 2000;61:1409-16.