Transtheoretical Model
Pender’s health promotion model explains that health is a positive dynamic state as opposed to the absence of illness. Therefore, health promotion programs seek to improve a patient’s level of well-being continually. The main elements of the model include individual characteristics and experiences, behavioral outcomes, and behavioral-specific cognition (Aqtam & Darawwad, 2018). Behavioral outcome relates to health-promoting behaviors. The model relies on four critical assumptions. First, people seek to actively influence their behaviors. Secondly, people, in their biopsychosocial complexity, undertake interactions with the environment leading to progress in environmental as well as health improvements over time (Aqtam & Darawwad, 2018). The third assumption is that health professionals are an integral part of the interpersonal environment that shapes people’s health in a lifetime. Lastly, self-motivated reviews of person-environment interactions are essential in the adoption of health-changing behaviors.
Transtheoretical Model
Prochaska and DiClemente formulated the Transtheoretical model in the 1970s while analyzing the experiences of smokers who quit the practice independently and those who seek further treatment. The model examines the decision-making abilities of individuals as a framework of intentional change (Friman, Huck, & Olsson, 2017). The two scholars assumed that people do not change their behaviors quickly and decisively. Instead, the process is cyclical. The six stages of behavioral change, according to the Transtheoretical model include Precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination (Friman, Huck, & Olsson, 2017). During the Precontemplation phase, people have no intention of taking action within a foreseeable duration. Additionally, they are unaware that their behaviors are problematic. During the contemplation stage, individuals intend to adopt healthy behaviors within a foreseeable period of around six months after recognizing that their behavior is problematic. In the preparation phase, they spend around 30 days taking small steps towards behavior change (Friman, Huck, & Olsson, 2017). The action stage entails recent behavioral changes and the determination to keep moving forward. The maintenance stage focuses on sustaining the behavior change. Termination refers to a stage in which people have no desire to go back to unhealthy behaviors. They are also confident about moving forward.