Readiness for change: implications for patient care

The strategic position of pharmacists within the community allows frequent interactions with many patients, thus making pharmacists potentially valuable resources for assisting patients in making behavioral changes regarding adherence to treatment. The Transtheoretical Model is a behavior-change model that provides a functional approach through which pharmacists can help patients to reach specific behavioral goals. The model is described and stage-specific examples of patient-pharmacist dialogue are provided to show how the model may be used to promote progression through the stages.