Techniques of Behaviour Change

Question 1

Define health behaviour.

Answer 1

Any activity undertaken by an individual believing himself to be healthy, for the purpose of preventing disease or detecting it at an asymptomatic stage

Question 2

What is the COM-B model?

Answer 2

Capability, opportunity, and motivation play a role in behaviour change. Capability depends on the physical and psychological state of the person. Opportunity looks at both physical and social norms. Motivation includes reflective motivation, they have to believe what the healthcare professionals are saying and they have to believe they can change their behaviour (self-efficacy)

Question 3

What is the behaviour change wheel?

Answer 3

It is the COM-B model put into context so that it includes intervention functions (e.g education, restrictions, persuasion), and policy categories (e.g. guidelines, legislation, regulation, environmental/social planning)

Question 4

Define behaviour change techniques

Answer 4

Behaviour change techniques are systematic strategies used in an attempt to change behaviour

Question 5

Give examples of behaviour change techniques:

Answer 5

• Providing information on consequences - e.g. when prescribing a medication, let the patient know the consequences/what can happen if they don’t take it
• Prompting specific goal setting
• Prompting barrier identification
• Modelling the behaviour
  Planning social support

Question 6

What is self-monitoring as a behaviour change technique?

Answer 6

This would involve an individual setting target behaviours. This person records information regarding their behaviour to identify potential barriers to reaching those targets. So these barriers can be identified and overcome or eliminated. This technique is, however, time-consuming over the longer term. Self-monitoring seems to be the most effective technique for making changes around healthy eating and physical activity

Question 7

What are implementation intentions as a behaviour change technique?

Answer 7

AKA Action plans - ask the patient to think critically about certain situations and then act/respond appropriately in those situations. I.e If => Then. E.g. IF it 9AM I will go for a run

Question 8

How do implementation intentions work?

Answer 8

By planning the situation in advance and how to act, the cues become more accessible for the individual when they wanna make that change (e.g. when to go for a run). And it helps strengthen the association between a good situation to act and the desirable action. => behaviour is more likely to occur