Course Description:

It is important for clinicians to understand patients' readiness for change. In this course, we explore the ways to assess a patient's readiness to change during a home health visit. Understanding when a patient is in the precontemplation stage of change and is not ready to change allows the clinician to gain insight into a patient's motivational level and potential barriers for positive health behavior changes. In this podcast, we examine the difference in patient outcomes when a clinician does not recognize when a patient is in the precontemplation stage of change versus when a clinician recognizes the patient's stage of change. The course highlights the importance of determining a person's motivations for change and incorporating patient goals into the treatment approach. At the end of the podcast, the listener will understand the ways to recognize a patient's readiness to change and strategies to support the patient in the health behavior change process.