THE TRANSTHEORETICAL MODEL OF HEALTH BEHAVIOR-CHANGE

The transtheoretical model posits that health behavior change involves progress through six stages of change: precontemplation, contemplatio n preparation, action, maintenance, and termination. Ten processes of change have been identified for producing progress along with decision al balance, self-efficacy and temptations. Basic research has generate d a rule of thumb for at-risk populations: 40% in precontemplation, 40 % in contemplation, and 20% in. preparation. Across 12 health behavior s, consistent patterns have been found between the pros and cons of ch anging and the stages of change. Applied research has demonstrated dra matic improvements in recruitment, retention, and progress using stage -matched interventions and proactive recruitment procedures. The most promising outcomes to date have been found with computer-based individ ualized and interactive interventions. The most promising enhancement to the computer-based programs are personalized counselors. One of the most striking results to date for stage-matched programs is the simil arity between participants reactively recruited who reached us for hel p and those proactively recruited who we reached out do help. If resul ts with stage-matched interventions continue to be replicated health p romotion programs will be able to produce unprecedented impacts on ent ire at-risk populations.