Eric Wicklund: Top 10 behavior change mistakes doctors make

1. Relying on willpower for long-term change- Any mHealth programs that rely solely on willpower without reward or reinforcement are doomed to fail
2. Attempting big leaps instead of baby steps- Many an mHealth project has big ambitions, but getting there should be a slow and steady process
3. Ignoring how environment shapes behaviors- Compliance is different for each patient
4. Trying to stop old behaviors instead of creating new ones- Focus on action, not avoidance, because it's easier to do something than to avoid doing something
5. Blaming failures on lack of motivation- Make the behavior easier to do, this is where mHealth technology really comes into play
6. Underestimating the power of triggers- Behaviors don't happen in a vaccum – one bad behavior has its roots in another behavior
7. Believing that information leads to action- A patient can be armed with all sorts of data – and yet still not be motivated to act
8. Focusing on abstract goals more than concrete behaviors- A physician may tell a patient to get in shape, but not suggest how to do so
9. Seeking to change behavior forever, not for a short time- Establish goals for a fixed period of time, rather than forever
10. Assuming that behavior change is difficult- In order to affect behavior change in patients, physicians themselves need to have the right attitude

Source: mHealth News
Source URL: http://www.mhealthnews.com/news/top-10-behavior-change-mista...

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