The transtheoretical model and primary care: “The Times They Are A Changin’”

PURPOSE: 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. DATA SOURCES: 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. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: 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.