1. One risk factor that TK has is the lack of social support and that feels as if she cannot quit smoking because that is the only way she copes with stress. She is a 45 year old divorcee who feels isolated from her friends due to her responsibility towards her mom. It is important to understand that lack of social support can cause depression as well as decrease the function of her immune system, which is comparable to other risk factors such as drinking or even smoking. Social isolation may also hinder the perceived support aspect where she feels as if she does not have anyone to support her or rely on; therefore, when making an intervention plan one may attempt to regain her social support by either promoting group sessions or creating plans that allow her time for her friends. Since she knows harmful affects of smoking, she is using avoidant based coping where she does not actively try to change her behavior. Promoting strategies that increase self-efficacy as well as emotional- focused and problem-focused approaches to her stressors may be helpful to progress towards a more approach-oriented coping style.
2.…show more content… TK is currently in the contemplation stage within the TTM model due to her awareness of the negative effects of her health behavior and understanding that her susceptibility (since she quit once before) to them. Patients in this stage may seek out help, however, one may not feel confident in their abilities to change their health behaviors. TK does not believe she is capable of quitting and has not made any preparation to do so in terms of small changes or generating plans, but since she is coming to a clinician, she is seeking out some sort of
