Question

Consider the scenario: Harris started smoking at the age of 14 and currently smokes 1 pack of cigarettes a day. Having just turned 21, Harris is experiencing difficulty breathing and is finding that 1 pack of cigarettes is no longer sufficient. Harris has been considering letting smoking go for the past three months. In fact, Harris tried quitting smoking with friends in the past and even tried alternative sources of nicotine, including gum and a patch. Harris also stopped smoking altogether for an entire week last month but found that it only made the problem worse. Harris' desire to keep smoking and in fact to increase the amount of cigarettes smoked has been noticed by his family and friends. Frustrated, Harris is concerned that nothing is working and really wants to change but does not know how. Explain how you would apply the HBM to the scenario described. Explain how this theoretical model may assist health educators with program planning and implementation. Be specific and provide examples.

Describe how you would apply the Transtheoretical (Stages of Change) Model to this scenario and explain why. Explain how the Transtheoretical (Stages of Change) Model is different for the scenario when compared to the HBM

Answer 1

Apply on Health Belief Model:

In HBM, it is believed that the individual's belief and perception play a major role in stopping or changing of an behavior. Here Harris susceptibility is the quitting of smoking will increase the severity of the health condition and the perceived threat is due to increased susceptibility and severity. According to the HBM model as the perceived threat increases simultaneously quitting of smoking increases. This helps the health educators to assess the patient's condition and to plan accordingly.

Assessment and planning should include

• Perceived susceptibility to tobacco addiction.
• Harris health condition and perceived smoking outcomes.
• Barriers in the quitting of smoking
• Perceived benefits of no smoking.

Health educators should implement of

• Clarify and educate the risk of increased use of smoking and benefits of stopping smoking.
• Assist to overcome the barrier related to quit smoking.
• Perceived benefits of quit smoking.
• Strengthening the alternatives of the nicotine patch or gum use by providing proper training.
• Provide adequate guidance to change its behavior.

Apply of Transtheoretical Model:

Transtheoretical Model guide the educators to change the behavior of the person in the smoking cessation period. The behavior change was processed through five stages of change.

1. Precontemplation - Has not stopped quitting immediately but give time to quit smoking. For ex: 6 months to 9 months time.
2. Contemplation - Examine the smoking use and desire to quit. For ex: Harris willingness to stop smoking and advantages and disadvantages of quit smoking.
3. Preparation - Prepare the person to make necessary changes in his lifestyle. For ex: Decide the quit date and prepare him mentally to quit smoking.
4. Action - Implementation of change in behavior. Harris has to stop smoking by the decided date and motivate him.
5. Maintenance - Changed behavior has to be followed continuously in his life. For ex: the health educators have to observe the Harris for at least six months over changed behavior of quit smoking.

The transtheoretical model consists of different stages which identify the individual stage of readiness to change the behavior whereas the HBM model contributes to different factors to control the behavior. Both the model assesses the individual knowledge and their belief in changing behavior and take positive actions to change the behavior.