Could this be applied in work w/medical pts?

• Mission Statement by Jessica Broitman, 11/9/96
  • Case Specific by Jessica Broitman, 12/2/96
    
    

I'm not that familiar w/C-M theory, but interested in learning more. Let me present a short example, perhaps you could tell me whether further study in C-M might offer a new perspective. I work with cardiac patients on an inpatient setting, shortly after a cardiac event (usually a heart attack). My goal is to deliver a one session intervention aimed at preventing relapse to smoking after the patient is discharged. We follow up with telephone calls after the patient leaves. Typically we try to evaluate where on Prochaska's stage of change the patient might fall and help them advance by one stage.

Here is the part where I'm wondering if a C-M perspective might be useful. Often I am impressed by the number of truly distressing events that have preceeded the hospitalization (divorce, separation, job loss etc). In a number of cases I have observed that the patient seems to have some characterological vulnerabilities and the cardiac event offers a possibility to make changes in their lives that weren't previously possible (in fact I suggest this to patients who seem to be grappling with existential issues). In such a brief intervention, I don't have access to lots of past history information. On the other hand, I see people at a time when their defenses are typically softened and perhaps core issues are somewhat exposed. Do you have comments/suggestions from this your perspective?

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