Exercise and Health: A review of the usefulness of behavioural change theories in helping patients to become habitually active

Abstract

Creating a cultural change whereby the habit of exercise becomes integral to daily life is essential if more people are to obtain the physical and psychosocial benefits of exercise. Such a philosophy must be rigorously embraced by health care professionals at a local level and practice informed by combined theory: behaviour change, education and empowerment theory. The purpose of this paper is to explore the exercise specific and the behavioural change models which potentially inform our understanding of the factors which help patients become habitually active. In addition, the Tones' Health Action Model which is not so widely used in exercise research will be evaluated since it synthesises two other widely tested models, the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Reasoned Action, and takes account of a wide range of relevant factors. From the literature reviewed, this paper concludes that no one theory provides a full explanation and that the factors associated with exercise and behavioural change are indeed complex.

Key words:

• exercise
• physical activity
• health promotion
• behaviour change
• models
• education and practice