Heart Education Awareness Resource and Training through eLearning (HEARTe)

Anne’s stage of health behaviour change

As a health professional it can be tempting to focus on the health behaviour change that you may see as the most important. However, it is important to let the person set the agenda based on their stage of change.

Anne’s stage of change
Lifestyle risk Stage of change
a plate of battered fish, chips, and peas
  • Anne is at the PRECONTEMPLATION stage of change for DIET
pair of trainers
  • Anne is at the PRECONTEMPLATION stage of change for PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
packet of cigarettes
  • Anne is at the CONTEMPLATION stage of change for SMOKING
three half-full glasses of red wine
  • Anne is at the PREPARATION stage of change for ALCOHOL
thumbnail image of Anne holding forehead
  • Anne is at the PREPARATION stage of change for MENTAL HEALTH

 

Pulse point

Always remember that while every patient consultation is an opportunity for health behaviour change, lifestyle advice alone may not be sufficient to motivate the patient for change. It is helpful to focus collaboratively on areas the patient agrees to discuss. Consider upskilling yourself in health behaviour change (HBC) techniques or try the Public Health Scotland Health Behaviours & Supporting Change courses.

Page last reviewed: 25 May 2020