Health Promotion And Improvement Or Maintenance, Self...

Change is certainly not a concept that is easily accepted or achieved by most members of society because it requires efforts outside of what has become the â€Å"norm† or familiar and most comfortable for people. In regards to health promotion and improvement or maintenance, self-assessment, along with professional guidance, is necessary to examine a patient’s potential to change. Identifying in which stage of the Transtheoretical Model a patient exists is imperative to application of theory, to predict success as well as enable movement in a positive direction and promote a desirable outcome. For one patient, G. H., grief, depression, and genetic factors – none of which were of her own choosing or any fault of her own, have resulted in the†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Evidence suggests that the explicit use of an appropriate theory will significantly improve the chances of effectiveness† (Hutchison, Johnston, Breckon, 2013, p. 109). For G.H., application of the family ecosystem and it’s concepts of the patient, her environment, and the interactions between the two will be utilized to identify the changes which will be necessary in order to improve her life and overall health. Additionally, consideration will be given to discern how her family and health care team members can contribute positively to her change process. G.H. is a 39 year old white female patient, who is 5’4, and 240 lbs. Since her brother died five years ago of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, she has experienced weight gain and depression. She feels both are the result of her grief, a concept which is congruent to the ecological systems theory, which maintains that different environments throughout a person’s lifespan may influence their behavior in various ways (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). G.H. is currently being treated for her depression and hypertension with the medications Effexor and Losartan, respectively. She claims to be in a happy marriage of 8 years, and speaks with joy about her six year old son. She states job satisfaction in her current and stable position of employment and feels close to her co-workers. She receives enjoyment from social outings planned with her