TITLE:
Promoting Health Behavior Change in Canada: A Quality Improvement Project Integrating Prevention and Wellness in Frontline Care
AUTHORS:
Kiran Rabheru, David Conn, Daria Parsons, Ariane S. Massie, Julie Mitchell, Michael Vallis, Claire Checkland, Keri-Leigh Cassidy
KEYWORDS:
Behaviour Sciences, Mental Health, Medical Education, Primary and Secondary Prevention, Health Behavior Change, Risk Reduction, Tools for Health and Wellness, Positive Psychiatry
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.11 No.3,
May
12,
2021
ABSTRACT: Background: The critical need for Health Behaviour Change (HBC) for preventative care has been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This quality improvement project assessed the effectiveness and acceptability of Fountain of Health HBC tools as a minimal intervention for primary and secondary prevention among Canadian clinicians and their patients. Methods: Clinicians received HBC education and tools (paper tools and app-based) to assist their patients in setting a S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, Time-limited) goal at baseline and assessed four weeks later. Primary outcome measures were: 1) patient self-report of success at goal attainment; 2) patient self-reported evaluation of change in well-being and health attitudes; and 3) clinician experience and engagement. Results: A total of 2184 clinicians received HBC education. Of these, 759 clinicians registered to participate in the project. 961 patients set S.M.A.R.T. HBC goals using either the paper tools (PT) or the app format. Patient data revealed nearly all patients (89% of PT users and 90% of app users) at least partially succeeded in attaining their goal at a four-week follow-up. Most patients (85% of PT and 80% of app users) also reported improvement in their well-being. A significant difference in health beliefs and attitudes was found in both PT (p Conclusions: HBC is challenging. Educating and providing clinicians with HBC tools as a minimal intervention was found to be a successful health prevention strategy to improve patient well-being and health attitudes, and achieve S.M.A.R.T. goals. Results show HBC tools, education, and support for clinicians are both acceptable and effective for HBC in frontline care. These findings are relevant and timely given greater reliance on virtual care in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research with rigorous methodology is needed to implement programs to achieve sustainable HBC to promote health on a large scale.