Does the Transtheoretical Model Show Health Behaviour Changes for Ischemic Heart Disease Patients?

Abstract

Background: The use of motivational interviewing (MI) for changing unhealthy behaviour of ischemic heart disease patients forces us to find methods for its effectiveness evaluation. One of the solutions could be the transtheoretical model (TTM). It is a stage-based theory of behaviour changes. Movement through the stages is hypothesized to be caused by the processes of change, decisional balance and temptation. The objective of this study is to find out how TTM can show health behaviour changes for ischemic heart disease patients. Methods: One to three MI sessions has been successfully applied for 12 cardiac patients during their rehabilitation treatment period. TTM’s Readiness to Change Questionnaire was used to evaluate behaviour changes at the beginning and at the end of MI treatment. Findings: There were 7 patients at precontemplation, 5 at contemplation and none at action stages at the begining of MI sessions. Results showed that 5 patients stayed at contemplation stage but 4 patients moved from precontemplation to contemplation and 3 from precontemplation to action stages after MI interventions. Discussion: TTM evaluates health behaviour changes even after brief intervention.