Increasing confidence and competence in supporting behaviour change in physiotherapy practice using Making Every Contact Count Healthy Conversation Skills: a before and after evaluation

Aim: To a) evaluate the impact of Making Every Contact Count Healthy Conversation Skills (MECC HCS) training on the confidence and competence of physiotherapists in supporting patient behaviour change, and b) evaluate perceived acceptability, barriers and facilitators to implementing MECC HCS, following training.

Methods: A before and after evaluation design was employed. MECC HCS training took place in October and December 2021. A range of measures were taken directly before training, directly after training, at 6- to 12- week follow-up and at 6- month follow-up. These measures related to confidence in delivering MECC HCS and supporting behaviour change in patients, competence in doing so, and perceived acceptability of utilising MECC HCS as a brief intervention to support behaviour change in practice.

Results: MECC HCS training had significant positive impacts on the confidence and competence of physiotherapists in using MECC HCS skills to support patient behaviour change. Physiotherapists found training highly valuable and felt that implementing MECC HCS was acceptable within their practice. ‘Intentions’ and ‘Social/ Professional Role and Identity’ were key enablers to MECC HCS implementation at 6 months post- training.

Conclusions: MECC HCS training may contribute to closing the gap between evidence-based recommendations and the practice of physiotherapists in relation to health promotion and supporting patient behaviour change and self-management.