Using the agenda-setting technique is a good way to focus on the main concerns and to avoid lecturing the patient or ‘talking in monologue’. Let’s look at these in relation to Mark: The nurse encourages Mark to discuss activity by using an agenda setting tool. This highlights areas of lifestyle management for Mark to consider.
Readiness ruler
Is a structured and directive way of enabling patients to say how they feel about a particular health behaviour change. Learn more about the readiness ruler in module 5.
Nurse Heather talks to Mark about his activity.
- Nurse “On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being not ready to change and 10 being ready to change, how ready are you for increasing your exercise?”
- Patient “About a 6”
- Nurse “What would it take for you to be an 8 on that scale?”
- Patient “I think I would need to lose a bit of weight so I wasn’t so self conscious about starting at the gym”
- Nurse: There are lots of ways you can become fitter and increase your activity other than the gym, can we chat about these.
- Mark : yes, I think that would be useful as I suppose I can only become fitter by being more physically active regularly and then I could fit it into work times.
- Nurse: Is there a time of the day that suits you and does not make you alter your routine too much?
- Mark: I suppose my lunch break and then after my tea break if I am working later
- Nurse: It is important to find an activity that you enjoy. By choosing activities you enjoy, you will be more likely to stick with them.
- Mark: that makes sense, can you give me some examples I could think about and get further information?
- Nurse: Yes Mark of course but there are also tips that I can give you about activity that you should keep in mind when deciding what will work for you.
- Nurse: Keep the activity up regularly, at the moment this would be around 30 mins per day according to guidelines.
Keep choosing the active ways of doing everyday activities (like walking a bit extra to the shops, taking the stairs).
Mix and match the activities you like best for variety.
Keep building up and gradually doing a bit more and this mean you will be increasing your fitness
Pulse point
More information and useful PDF’s are available at Physical Activity Health Aliance (PAHA).
- File: Physical activity guidelines for adults (19-64 years) [PDF, 191KB]
- Physical activity guidelines for older adults (65 years)
For other information regarding exercise and healthy lifestyle resources access:
Page last reviewed: 27 May 2020
