Common Pitfalls in Behaviour Change

Question 1

Why worry about behaviour change?

Answer 1

Because every time you meet a patient you will be asking them to do something differently.

This is behaviour change.

Behaviour change is difficult.

Question 2

examples of how important behaviour is when talking to a patient?

Answer 2

Giving info:
I tell them how to brush properly. Then, I show them. Then, I ask them to show me, so I can be sure they can do it.

Increasing fear:
I show them the plaque… I say, “look…look at all this plaque on your teeth. If you don’t change the way you brush your teeth, you will end up losing them”.

Question 3

Summary- common pitfalls in behaviour change

Answer 3

Giving Information – very popular but it doesn’t work:
-Information may enhance knowledge
-Knowledge is necessary but not sufficient to change behaviour

Increasing Fear:
-Increasing fear makes people scared
-They do not engage with the change, instead, they deal with the fear
-Or they think they cannot deal with the fear so they may as well engage with the unhealthy behaviour
-Or they think “This is so bad…it will not happen to me” so dismiss your advice altogether

Doing something ‘psychological’:
-Unlikely to help, unless delivered by a psychologist