Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Practice Exam

In the transtheoretical model of change, which stage does a patient who is considering making a change fit into?

1. Precontemplation

2. Contemplation

3. Action

4. Maintenance

The correct answer is: Contemplation

In the transtheoretical model of change, the stage where a patient is considering making a change is the contemplation stage. This is characterized by individuals who are aware of the need for change and are actively thinking about it, but have not yet committed to taking action. People in this stage often weigh the pros and cons of changing their behavior, displaying increased awareness and intention to improve their situation. They might be gathering information, exploring strategies, and reflecting on barriers, which is crucial before moving into the action stage. Contrasting with other stages, such as precontemplation, where individuals are not yet considering change, contemplation captures the essence of the individual's growing motivation and readiness to change but stops short of actual action. The action stage represents the active implementation of change, while the maintenance stage refers to sustaining those changes over the long term, so both of these stages follow contemplation and indicate progress that has already taken place.