Description

The Processes of Change Questionnaire – Smoking Version is a psychometric tool designed to assess the processes of change that individuals follow in their efforts to change their smoking-related behavior. This tool is based on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of Prochaska and DiClemente, which describes the stages individuals go through during the process of behavior change.

Analysis

The Processes of Change Questionnaire – Smoking Version includes questions that evaluate ten core processes of change related to smoking behavior change:
Consciousness Raising: Questions concerning the increase of knowledge and awareness about the negative consequences of smoking.
Dramatic Relief: Assessment of emotional reactions to the problems caused by smoking.
Self-Reevaluation: Questions about the reassessment of personal values and identity in relation to smoking.
Environmental Reevaluation: Evaluation of the impact of smoking on the individual’s social and physical environment.
Self-Liberation: Assessment of commitment and belief that change can be achieved.
Social Liberation: Questions regarding social changes and opportunities that facilitate behavior change.
Counter Conditioning: Assessment of the use of alternative behaviors to replace smoking.
Reinforcement Management: Questions regarding the reinforcement of positive behaviors and the avoidance of reinforcing smoking.
Stimulus Control: Evaluation of efforts to avoid or modify stimuli that trigger smoking.
Helping Relationships: Questions related to seeking and accepting support from others to change behavior.

Purpose

The main objectives of the Processes of Change Questionnaire – Smoking Version are:
Assessment of Processes of Change: To evaluate which processes of change the individual uses in their smoking-related behavior change.
Monitoring Progress: To track the individual’s progress during treatment or intervention.
Guiding Therapeutic Interventions: To provide data for designing and tailoring therapeutic interventions according to the individual’s needs.

Scoring

The scoring of the questionnaire is based on the individual’s responses to each question, which are rated on a Likert scale (e.g., from “Never” to “Always”). The overall score is derived from the sum of responses in each process of change category. The scores are used to determine the stage of change in which the individual is and to identify the processes that are most active or need strengthening.

References

Prochaska, J.O., & DiClemente, C.C. Stages and processes of self-change of smoking: Toward an integrative model of change. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1983; 51(3):390–395.
Prochaska, J.O., DiClemente, C.C., & Norcross, J.C. In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviors. American Psychologist. 1992; 47(9):1102–1114.
Velicer, W.F., DiClemente, C.C., Rossi, J.S., & Prochaska, J.O. Relapse situations and self-efficacy: An integrative model. Addictive Behaviors. 1990; 15(3):271–283.
DiClemente, C.C. Mechanisms, determinants and processes of change in the modification of smoking behavior. In Glynn, T.J., Leukefeld, C.G., & Ludford, J.P. (Eds.), Preventing Relapse: A Critical Guide for Clinicians. Pergamon Press. 1984.