The methods of overcoming addictions and other health-compromising behaviors, such as the transtheoretical model and the health action process approach, are both efficient for promoting the population’s wellbeing. However, the former seems more beneficial from the practical perspective since it presents more accurate guidance for helping practitioners. First, it incorporates numerous theories underpinning the suggested progression of treatment, which consists of specific stages, including pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance (Prochaska et al., 1992). In this way, the so-called “spiral pattern of change” reflects the expected course of action for specialists depending on their patients’ position on one stage or another (Prochaska et al., 1992, p. 4). Second, this model seems more flexible from the point of view of readjusting efforts because it encompasses various constructs, as mentioned above, which allow addressing everyone’s needs in each case.
In turn, the health action process approach resembles an excellent complement to other methods of overcoming addiction and harmful conduct patterns rather than an independent model. This conclusion is conditional upon the fact that it focuses solely on creating motivation in patients for cooperating with healthcare workers (Schwarzer & Luszczynska, 2008). Meanwhile, it does not explicitly indicate the subsequent treatment process or its stages, as in the case of the transtheoretical model. The scholars who developed this framework only state that dealing with “the intention-behavior gap” is an optimal solution for the efficiency of further plans for assisting people (Schwarzer & Luszczynska, 2008, p. 142). Therefore, its usefulness is limited to a single stage, which in the previously examined approach is referred to as contemplation when people are aware of the problem but unwilling to take action (Prochaska et al., 1992). Thus, the health action process can be viewed as an extension of other practical schemes and not an effective separate system.
References
Prochaska, J. O., DiClemente, C. C., & Norcross, J. C. (1992). In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviors. Addictions Nursing Network, 5(1), 2-16.
Schwarzer, R., & Luszczynska, A. (2008). How to overcome health-compromising behaviors: The health action process approach.European Psychologist, 13(2), 141-151. Web.