Submited on: 22 Sep 2015 01:40:14 PM GMT
Published on: 23 Sep 2015 09:52:46 AM GMT

Strengths and areas of improvement of MTM as of March 2018

 

The strengths of MTM expressed in original writing of this model (Sharma, 2015, 2017) were that this model is about behavior change as opposed to behavior acquisition, is exclusive to health education, is parsimonious, uses proven (empirically tested) constructs, does not have shared variance between constructs, focuses on modifiable or malleable constructs, breaks down the behavior change into pragmatic initiation and sustenance (maintenance) components, is applicable across cultures, caters to both one time and long term behavior change and can be used for designing brief and precise interventions.  Some of these assertions seem to be supported by empirical work on this model work thus far (Brown & Sharma 2017; Dokun-Mowete, 2017; Hayes, Bridges & Sharma, 2017; Hayes & Sharma, 2016; Knowlden, Sharma & Nahar, 2017; Nahar et al., 2016; Sharma et al, 2016; Sharma et al, 2017; Sharma et al. (in press)).

 

However, this model is still evolving and future researchers of this model will have to consider several recommendations for improvement. The first such recommendation is that “changes in social environment” construct is contended by some social psychologists to play a role in initiation model as well (B. Flay, personal communication, December 8, 2015). This will have to be tested in future applications. It is also contented that PRECEDE-PROCEED model is a better model (L Green, personal communication, January 7, 2018).  In fact, MTM is not a competition to the PRECEDE-PROCEED model but is only a refinement of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model and is not separate from it. For the initiation model, behavioral confidence is a salient predisposing factor, participatory dialogue of advantages outweighing disadvantages is a salient reinforcing factor, and changes in physical environment is a salient enabling factor. Similarly, in the sustenance model, emotional transformation is a salient predisposing factor, practice for change is salient reinforcing factor and social environment is a salient enabling factor (Bridges et al, 2018). Further, future researchers will also have to contend with developing empirical interventional studies to apply this model to brief and precise interventions.  Some work is under way in this regard (Hayes, work in progress). Furthermore, no comparative studies of this model with other models have been undertaken yet and future researchers will have to do so to ameliorate this model.

 

References

 

Bridges, L., Sharma, M., Lee, J. H., Bennett, R., Buxbaum, S., & Reese-Smith, J. (2018). Using the PRECEDE-PROCEED model for an online peer-to-peer suicide prevention and awareness for depression (SPAD) intervention among African American college students: Experimental study. Health Promotion Perspectives, 8(1), 15-24. doi: 10.15171/hpp.2018.02.

 

Brown, L., & Sharma, M. (2017). Using multi theory model (MTM) of health behavior change to predict fruits and vegetables consumption among African American women. Proceedings of the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, 145, Session 3248. (Abstract available from: https://apha.confex.com/apha/2017/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/374280).

 

Dokun-Mowete, C. A. (2017). Using multi-theory model to predict low salt intake - Nigerian adults with hypertension. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from: https://pqdtopen.proquest.com/pubnum/10637900.html

 

Hayes, T., Bridges, L., & Sharma, M. (2017). Developing and validating an instrument to measure change in binge drinking to responsible drinking in college students using multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change Proceedings of the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, 145, Session 4173. (Abstract available from: https://apha.confex.com/apha/2017/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/371330 ). 

 

Hayes, T., & Sharma, M. (2016). Using the multi-theory model for health behavior change to predict leisure time physical activity among African American women. Proceedings of the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, 144, Session 3327. (Abstract available from: https://apha.confex.com/apha/144am/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/346634 )

 

Knowlden, A. P., Sharma, M., & Nahar, V. K. (2017). Using multi-theory model of health behavior change to predict adequate sleep behavior. Family and Community Health, 40(1), 56-61.

 

Nahar, V. K., Sharma, M., Catalano, H. P., Ickes, M. J., Johnson, P., & Ford, M.A. (2016). Testing multi-theory model (MTM) in predicting initiation and sustenance of physical activity behavior among college students. Health Promotion Perspectives, 6(2), 58-65. doi: 10.15171/hpp.2016.11.

 

Sharma, M. (2015). Multi-theory model (MTM) for health behavior change. WebmedCentral Behaviour, 6(9), WMC004982. Retrieved from http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_view/4982

 

Sharma, M. (2017). Theoretical foundations of health education and health promotion. (3rd ed., pp. 250-262) Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

 

Sharma, M., Catalano, H. P., Nahar, V. K., Lingam, V., Johnson, P., & Ford, M. A. (2016). Using multi-theory model of health behavior change to predict portion size consumption among college students. Health Promotion Perspectives, 6(3), 137-144. doi: 10.15171/hpp.2016.22.

 

Sharma, M., Catalano, H. P., Nahar, V. K., Lingam, V., Johnson, P., & Ford, M. A. (2017). Using multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change to predict water consumption instead of sugar sweetened beverages. Journal of Research in Health Sciences, 17 (1), e00370.

 

Sharma, M., Stephens, P. M., Nahar, V. K., Catalano, H. P., Lingam, V., & Ford, M. A. (in press). Using multi-theory model to predict initiation and sustenance of fruit and vegetable consumption among college students. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.

 

 

Author’s clarification:  Many of my students have started referring to multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change as Sharma’s model which it is not.  It is the result of what we refer these days as collective intelligence. There is nothing new in this model except for collectively putting together existing and proven constructs of health behavior change. Let us all collectively try to reify and ameliorate this model further for betterment of humankind.