TTM approach
For effective public health and healthcare management, systems require a deeper understanding of human behaviors. The process works in ways that promote the acuity of healthcare services (Glanz et al., 2015). Besides, it also encourages populations to change towards public health promotion and progress. Identifying notable human traits of treatment adherence, medical consultations, and healthy lifestyles offer greater opportunities for individuals to change (Glanz et al., 2015). Doing so creates healthier populations with a lower disease burden. Given the dynamic nature of disease pathogens, physicians rely on evident characteristics to address disease prevalence. Furthermore, they save groups from infectious illnesses. The measures trigger progress to improve the quality of life while increasing the efficacy of health care services. The transtheoretical model (TTM) utilizes powerful change process frameworks and principles to develop effective interventions for clinical problems (Glanz et al., 2015). TTM comprises pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination frameworks with strengths in self-efficacy, environmental reevaluations, and awareness alongside weaknesses in time.
History
In the late 1970s, Prochaska and DiClemente developed the TTM model to determine the behavioral traits of smoking addicts who quit by themselves. The two researchers analyzed outcomes by initiating research studies to evaluate underlying factors that triggered cessation (Han, Pettee & Kohl 2017). Cigarette smoking populations comprised the primary study participants. Establishing the framework played effective roles in determining one’s ability to make sound decisions in health matters. The methodology also determined one’s effort to quit addictive drugs without external influence (Han et al., 2017). Ideally, the established behavioral change model asserts that people have intrinsic motivation levels that encourage them to quit bad lifestyle habits that cause greater harm. From the perspective of the two scientists, smokers could quit the habit if focused on it. The model proved that people do not change quickly and decisively (Han et al., 2017). Changes take place in different stages where individuals behave in varied ways. Through the six-framework model, they attain the desired changes they long for ultimately.
Model Framework
Precontemplation and contemplation comprise the first two frameworks of the behavioral change model in social psychology. Authors argue that people being passive and unwilling to take any actions in the future characterize the first process (Glanz et al., 2015). Those within the first stage lack an awareness of their ill behaviors and how badly it affects those around them. The model establishes that victims lack the goals or objectives of changing within the next six months (Han et al., 2017). Unlike the first, the latter describes situations where individuals show interest in adopting healthy practices in the future. Most within the stage acknowledge their bad behaviors while weighing costs and benefits. By reaching the contemplation stage, one shows effort in trying to make behavioral considerations about their actions (Liu et al., 2018). Those within the framework offer show some level of resistance and hesitation since they still find it hard to choose the best and abandon their bad traits. Such feelings limit their abilities to move forward and abandon previously harmful habits in their lives.
The next stages of the model entail preparation and action in different populations around the globe. Preparation defines a process where one shows a higher level of determination to change behavior in the next thirty days. Most people within the framework show higher levels of willingness to take the necessary steps that guarantee a change in their lives (Liu et al., 2018). As noted, researchers prove that the process offers a plan of action for victims. Some may choose to enroll in a gym class, seek counseling services, or look for a psychologist’s help within their environments. The action stage characterizes an instance where people make particular lifestyle modifications in six months (Liu et al., 2018). The TTM approach specifies that the action stage involves processes that reduce the overall disease prevalence and restore one’s health to normalcy. Some actions can be the reduction in the nu, the number of cigarettes smoked per day, or the number of liquor bottles taken daily. Such great steps signify action in affected groups.
After the first four steps, individuals conclude with the maintenance and termination stages of their addiction. With the first one, people take the right initiatives to keep up with the new behaviors and avoid getting into troubling ones that pose a great risk to their health (Glanz et al., 2015). Those within the framework accept changes fully and work towards maintaining them. People do so without necessarily sliding back into previously bad habits. The prevention of relapses in six months and beyond remains a primary goal and objective of the stage. Therefore, for most people, addiction-free lifestyles remain paramount in the identified change process. Termination characterizes a situation where people offer assurance through their actions(Glanz et al., 2015). Many a time, they behave in acceptable and admirable ways that shield them from returning to their previous unhealthy habits and traits. The stage ensures progress in that people live towards healing and living in ways that ensure health promotion activities. The occurrences depict the success of the model in former addicts who made the decisions to change and attained lifestyle shifts in over six months.
Strengths
The model depicts strength in addressing complex and simple bad health behaviors in different demographic groups. By utilizing health psychology, physicians develop a greater ability to understand their patients and lead them towards healthy behaviors (Hashemzadeh et al., 2019). Using the methodology benefits the larger society by stopping alcohol abuse, encouraging exercise in different populations, and enabling people to control their weights. Arguably, the utilization of the model assists in attaining health promotion goals. The measures motivate and encourage people to change their lifestyles. Habitual shifts assist in managing chronic illnesses such as diabetes while encouraging people to seek medical attention (Hashemzadeh et al., 2019). If caregivers guide their patients using the model, they improve advocacy efforts in reducing addiction problems and drug dependence. Such practices improve outcomes while reducing cases of addiction within different age groups. Doing so fosters progress while reducing the health care burden for the larger community.
Utilizing the approach depicts strength in increasing self-efficacy while creating a good balance in health care decisions. Based on different frameworks of the TTM, individuals choose to use the framework to manage their addiction problems. Additionally, they motivate themselves. Self-satisfaction, love, and acceptance characterize the model in instances where one manages to progress through each identified process (Han et al., 2017). Engaging in the small shifts of behavior towards one primary goal enables one to value and appreciate them. Such occurrences minimize self-hate, pity, and victimization arising from bad health habits. Decisions become easier to make and fulfill since people live up to the expectations of the goals they set (Han et al., 2017). The model makes former addicts focused and determined to prevent relapses that destroy their lives by progressing in different steps. Such outcomes prove that the measure is useful and necessary in healthcare settings.
Using the model illustrates strength through maximum awareness, emotional arousal, and environmental reevaluations in people with addiction challenges. Implementing the approach helps give people a wider knowledge base about addiction problems (Han et al., 2017). For the best results, the TTM educates populations while compelling them to learn more about addiction and how it affects them. Emotional arousal remains evident in the action stage, where people learn about harmful behaviors and implement medical advice by themselves (Hashemzadeh et al., 2019). If one succeeds in stopping their action, they become emotionally stable and less irritable.TTM methodologies benefit people by making them considerate about their surroundings. One evaluates characters and determines how they negatively affect their environments (Hashemzadeh et al., 2019). The elements make the model effective and essential when planning for behavioral changes in varied groups. Therefore, by using it, individuals have the greatest benefits in their health care issues.
Weaknesses
Despite its strengths, the model still poses challenges in that it is time-consuming. Even though people make personal decisions to change and undergo the six stages, utilizing the TTM still increases the risk of relapses. When people lack proper determination and social support, they relapse easily (Hashemzadeh et al., 2019). Addiction problems are among the worst and most difficult to counter. For some victims, they cannot be successful without the input of external parties. Some people encounter withdrawal symptoms that make them sickly and less motivated to progress towards the model (Hashemzadeh et al., 2019). In such situations, most give up and return to their previous lifestyles as drug addicts. The relapses affect them psychologically and physically, thus harming their health and well-being. Although the model remains effective, the identified setbacks make it less applicable and successful in some groups affected by chronic addiction habits within their settings. The practices make the framework quite problematic for the worst-hit groups.
Example of the model being utilized
One good example of the model’s utilization is the adoption of physical activity (PA) to reduce the prevalence of lifestyle disease. Within the University of Iowa’s student populations, institutional management can foster education programs to create awareness of lifestyle diseases. The program also states the ills of living sedentary lifestyles. After that, concerned parties can conduct behavioral observations on student groups and see how they react to the information they receive (Liu et al., 2018). Some disregard as others contemplate exercise activities. Through action and maintenance, students engage in sports, running, and physical activity to boost their physical health. Those who choose to act on the information maintain different exercise forms to reduce obesity cases (Liu et al., 2018). Students also implement long-term goals in addressing lifestyle conditions arising from being overweight. Those within the last stage of the framework limit unhealthy feeding and living habits that increase the risk of obesity and heart complications.
Summary from a peer viewed journal
In their journal, Glanz, Rimer, and Viswanath assert that health behaviors play direct roles in selecting medical interventions for varied populations. According to the authors, healthcare systems need to have appropriate measures that evaluate behaviors and practices (Glanz et al., 2015). The moves offer the best solutions to chronic illnesses. Within their article, the researchers advocate for the utilization of technology to contemplate behavioral changes. The writers believe that healthcare systems reduce the overall rates of hospital readmissions and Medicare program costs for American populations by doing so. Professionals also engage in behavioral change strategies that emphasize group counseling, evidence-based actions, and advocacy (Glanz et al., 2015). The measures address infectious diseases, drug addiction, and substance dependence within their groups. The authors believe that systems can improve tremendously from their proposals while using innovations such as periodic exercise reminders and weight checkers to assist different groups. All three agree that understanding different mannerisms and behaviors is the first step towards selecting the best treatment options. For different demographics and populations, experts need alternative options.
Overall, the discussion activity analyzed the TTM approach of behavioral change alongside strengths and weaknesses. Identified frameworks comprised contemplation, contemplation, action, maintenance, preparation, and termination. The six steps determined one’s progress towards behavioral shifts in six months and beyond. Notable strengths were increased self-efficacy, emotional arousal, maximum awareness, and environmental reevaluations. Shortcomings lay within the model being time-consuming. A good example of the framework’s utilization was the use of awareness programs to allow students to exercise by themselves. Identified authors proved that behavioral understanding was the first critical step in choosing treatment solutions for affected groups. The ideas of the authors enhanced understanding while building on the discussion activity to have the best results.