Building a program of research based on the transtheoretical model

The purpose of this article is to describe the author's program of research based on the transtheoretical model (TTM) by Prochaska and DiClemente, applied to individuals with addictions and comorbid psychiatric disorders. A brief overview of the TTM is provided. The purpose, findings, and implications for five non-experimental studies are presented. The concept of patient choice emerges from this program of research. Well-designed randomized control trials need to be conducted to establish the efficacy of stage-based treatment for the target population and to examine the role of choice on treatment outcomes. The article addresses the value of being mentored by experts and mentoring others to address the shortage of addictions nurse researchers.