After receiving information about smoking cessation the client respond

QUESTION

After receiving information about smoking cessation the client responds, “OK. I’ve been thinking about quitting.” According to Prochaska and DiClemente, in which stage of change is this client?

1. Preparation
2. Precontemplation
3. Action
4. Contemplation

ANSWER:

Correct Answer: 4

This response reflects contemplation, when the patient seriously considers changing a specific behavior, actively gathers information, and verbalizes plans to make the change in the near future. In precontemplation the patient neither thinks about changing behavior nor is interested in information about the behavior. The preparation stage occurs when the person undertakes cognitive and behavioral activities that prepare the person for change. The action stage occurs when the person actively implements behavioral and cognitive strategies to interrupt previous behavior patterns and adopt new ones.