This book synthesizes more than 50 years of empirical research into a practical guide for those who wish to promote their own health or that of others. It advocates a 3-ingredient recipe for change: Information (what to change and why); Motivation (desire the change); and Strategy (have the proper tools).

Chapter 1 - Understanding Behavior Change: The Theory Behind Informing, Motivating, and Planning for Health Levels of Health Behavior Theoretical Models of Health Behavior and Change Health Belief Model Theory of Reasoned Action Theory of Planned Behavior Transtheoretical Model of Change Social Cognitive Models Precaution Adoption Process Model Information-Motivation-Strategy Model Conclusion Chapter 2 - Persuading and Motivating Positive Health Behaviors Goal Setting Social Comparisons Persuasive Messages Expertise Liking Scarcity, Reciprocity, and Consistency Fear Induction Teachable Moments Message Framing Expectations Goal Pursuit Beliefs about Outcomes Optimism Self-efficacy Perceptions of Benefits and Costs Social Support Goal Framing Targeting Goals Conclusion Chapter 3 - Understanding and Remembering Information Processing, Memory, and Recall Focusing Attention and Encoding Memory Storage Emotion and Memory Chronic Stress Self-enhancement Bias Cultural Context Additional Factors Strategies for Improving Memory and Recall Tailoring Information Making Time Avoiding Overload Ordering of Information Note-taking and Memory Aids Mnemonics and Chunking Conclusion Chapter 4 - Improving Health Through the Development and Management of Habits Forming Habits Classical Conditioning Operant Conditioning Rewards for Behaviors Maintaining Habits Reinforcement Schedules Behavioral Contracts and Contingency Plans Intrinsic Motivation Breaking Bad Habits Self-knowledge and Personality Choosing the Right Environments Balancing Habits with Mindfulness Managing Barriers to Behavior Change Self-monitoring and Regulating Managing Ups and Downs The Practitioner's Role Cultural Variations Practitioner Expectations Individual Behaviors and Larger Systems Conclusion Chapter 5 - Evaluation of Risks, Decision-Making, and Outcomes Evaluation and Decision-making Strategies A Crash Course in Bayesian Methods Understanding Risks and Risk Reduction Odds Ratios Risk Ratios Hazard Ratios Straight versus Standardized Ratios Thinking About Study Results as a Whole and the Value of Meta-Analysis Cumulative and Interactive Effects Patient Involvement in Decision-making Tools for Participatory Decision-making Conclusion Chapter 6 - Relationships and Communication Between Caregivers and Patients Models of Practitioner-Patient Relationships Paternalism Consumerism Mutuality Practitioner-Patient Communication Physical Environment Verbal Communication Open-ended Questions Refraining from Interruption Providing Clear Information Patients' Verbalizations Nonverbal Communication Indicators of Distress Physical Pain and Sensitivity Cues Desire for Information and Involvement Medically-relevant Information Negotiating the Relationship Empathy Conclusion Chapter 7 - Effective Collaboration with Patients -- On a Tight Schedule Importance of the Health Care Team Using Teams and Technology to Deliver Care Planning the Medical Visit Pre-appointment Counseling Interactive Health Communication (IHC) Group Consultations Technology-based Decision-making Aids Follow-up Management Technology-based Adherence Aids Digital Support Groups Conclusion Chapter 8 - Partnering for Adherence in the Healthcare System Simplicity and Quality of Life Patient-centered Interventions Encouraging Self-efficacy Multifaceted Interventions to Improve Adherence Partnering and Barriers within Healthcare Systems Access to Care What Can Health Professionals Do?

"This would be an excellent textbook for any healthcare educator or academic educator who instructs future healthcare professionals. It not only provides an evidence-based foundation for developing effective curricula and teaching modalities, it also provides insight into the importance of communicating and collaborating with clients for health behavior change to occur."--Doody's "Health Behavior Change and Treatment Adherence: Evidence-Based Guidelines for Improving Healthcare offers an overview that is clearly sculpted by the authors' working models of lead factors influencing the adoption of adherence and ways to support adherence...this book does a good job at providing readers with a comprehensive overview..." --PsycCRITIQUES "Other books have covered similar material, but Health Behavior Change and Treatment Adherence offers examples of forms for behavior contracts, online resources for patient information, and uses of technology that can save physicians time-all with current references. This book is a gold mine of information." --JAMA

Selling point: The book is very easy to read, yet it is based on solid data. It will not feel overwhelming to those who use it, yet will provide them with empirically-based strategies to use as they work toward change.

Leslie Martin is Professor of Psychology, LaSierra University. Kelly Haskard-Zolnierek is Assistant Professor of Psychology, Texas State University. M. Robin DiMatteo is Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of California, Riverside.

Selling point: The book is very easy to read, yet it is based on solid data. It will not feel overwhelming to those who use it, yet will provide them with empirically-based strategies to use as they work toward change.