Planning and Monitoring

Articulating the change plan and assessing health outcomes is an integral part of enhancing wellness.

Assisting individuals to identify risky behaviors and to determine relevant interventions is part of the overall planning process. Another component is to create a plan geared at supporting self management of the behavior change process. A self management focused plan helps the individual learn to independently regulate and manage their behaviors. Research demonstrates that self-management strategies improve health outcomes by empowering people to understand opportunities to enhance their wellness and to take responsibility for their health.

The creation of the plan includes articulating the behavior change goals, defining how the goals will be monitored, along with defining the type of data that will collected to assist in determining if the intended health outcome has been achieved. By assessing for the presence or absence of the desired health outcome you are able to determine whether there is a need to modify the initial action plan. This evaluation is part and parcel of the action planning process where both effectiveness and impact should be measured and guide any need for modification of the plan.

Tool 1: Planning Pros and Cons Worksheet

Prior to an individual taking the key step of planning to make a behavior change to promote their healthfulness, it can be helpful for them to consider the benefits and costs of changing and not changing. For each relevant behavior, the individual can also determine if the benefit or cost of making the change is returned on a short term or long term basis. This process helps the individual to establish the relative tradeoffs associated with deciding to change or to continue with specific health related behaviors.
Source: Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Abuse Treatment. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 35. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 1999. Web Link
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Tool 2: Self Management Plan

The self management plan provides a simple template for the individual to articulate the behavioral change they are intending to modify through the articulation of self management goals. It provides them with points for consideration including enablers and barriers to change. Goals are best when they are concrete, specific and measurable. Additionally, it’s beneficial to break down the goals into smaller activities that are attainable in the near term. This allows for success to come earlier, enhances the sense of self-efficacy and mastery which can result in achievement of higher goals.
Source: Source: Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Abuse Treatment. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 35. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 1999 Web Link
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Additional Resources

  • Patient Self-Management Support Programs: An Evaluation - Web Link
  • Supporting Self-management in Patients with Chronic Illness - Web Link
  • American College of Physicians Foundation; Ready, Set, Action plans! - Web Link
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