 |
Changing behavior means understanding the psychology
of change. When it comes to healthy behaviors,
everyone knows what they should do. Eat well, exercise, get enough sleep, stop
smoking, and do everything in moderation. But if everyone knows this, why doesn’t
everyone do it?
The reason is that change is one of the most difficult things for an individual
to do. Lasting change is even harder. At Cardium Health, we understand the psychology
of change. We recognize that unless someone is willing to modify behaviors – eat
healthier food, exercise regularly, quit smoking – no amount of counseling
will be effective. That’s why evaluating each individual’s readiness
to change is an essential component of our assessment
process. |
Click image to view our
Change Readiness Model
|
We base the foundation of our readiness to change evaluation on Prochaska's stages of
change theory. This model proposes that lifestyle change is a gradual evolution in thought
process and action. Our Senior Health Management Clinicians assess what stage participants
are at in order to recommend the best approach to help them achieve their health goals.
They also incorporate other behavior change models such as motivational interviewing
and self-efficacy.
A person in the pre-contemplation stage may be in denial of her condition, or perhaps
she might be dealing with a personal issue that prevents her from being able to focus
positively on her health. By taking the time to get to know a little bit about the individual,
we’re able to offer the most effective help. Our integrated model allows us to
recognize if an individual would be best served through another employer-sponsored health
benefit such as an employee assistance program (EAP). For those who would benefit by
participating in a Cardium Health disease
management program, a primary
health coach is assigned with
the appropriate condition-specific expertise and counseling style.
An individual’s stage of readiness can change overnight. A heart attack can be
an extremely motivating event. However, contrary to popular belief, fear and crisis do
not lead to lasting change. The key is to reach out to individuals as quickly as possible
following an event to turn their motivation into action, and action into lasting change.
Readiness to Change Scenario [ Pop-Up ]
Clinical Risk | Health
Literacy
|
