Which tool is commonly used to assess readiness for change in patients?

• A. Body mass index.
• B. Spirometry.
• C. Medication reconciliation.
• D. Readiness rulers.

Answer: (D)

Understanding readiness for change is about gauging a patient's motivation and confidence to alter a behavior. Readiness rulers use a simple scale, often 0–10, to quantify how ready the patient feels to change, how important the change is to them, and how confident they are that they could do it. This quick assessment sparks focused discussion, helps reveal ambivalence, and guides how you tailor the next steps—from exploring benefits and barriers to planning specific actions. The other options measure health status or care processes rather than a patient’s motivation to change, so they don’t directly assess readiness: body mass index describes weight relative to height, spirometry evaluates lung function, and medication reconciliation ensures an accurate medication list.