Contemplation‐action‐maintenance model of behaviour change for persons with coronary heart disease: A qualitative study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore factors of health behaviour maintenance from the perspective of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. BACKGROUND: The majority of CHD patients do not achieve appropriate theory-based intervention to maintain health behaviours. Previous health behaviour change theories give little importance to behaviour maintenance. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study. METHODS: Thirty CHD patients were recruited purposively and interviewed from four hospitals in Beijing, China, during January 2017-August 2019. Data were analysed using template analysis methods. The COREQ checklist was used. RESULTS: Perceived enjoyment and perceived effectiveness from the newly adopted behaviours emerged as vital factors for maintaining health behaviour; contemplation-action-maintenance (CAM) model to explain the behaviour change and maintenance of CHD patients was constructed. CONCLUSIONS: The CAM model provides insight into the factors of health behaviour action and maintenance among CHD patients. Professionals can develop interventions from the perspective of patients' experiences to promote maintenance of behaviour. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Professionals need to consider that the goal of behavioural intervention should initially and continuously target patients' perseverance. Interventions of health behaviour that bring enjoyment may aid long-term maintenance. Also, healthcare providers can enhance patients' perception of effectiveness to motivate their behaviour maintenance in lifestyle change programmes.