What Competences Are Required to Deliver Person-Person Behaviour Change Interventions: Development of a Health Behaviour Change Competency Framework

Diane Dixon,Marie Johnston

doi:10.1007/s12529-020-09920-6

Abstract

BackgroundThe competence of the person delivering person-to-person behaviour change interventions may influence the effectiveness of the intervention. However, we lack a framework for describing the range of competences involved. The objective of the current work was to develop a competency framework for health behaviour change interventions.MethodA preliminary framework was developed by two judges rating the relevance of items in the competency framework for cognitive behaviour therapies; adding relevant items from reviews and other competency frameworks; and obtaining feedback from potential users on a draft framework. The Health Behaviour Change Competency Framework (HBCCF) was used to analyse the competency content of smoking cessation manuals.ResultsJudges identified 194 competency items as relevant, which were organised into two domains: foundation (12 competency topics comprising 56 competencies) and behaviour change (12 topics, 54 competencies); several of the 54 and 56 competencies were composed of sub-competencies (84 subcompetencies in total). Smoking cessation manuals included 14 competency topics from the foundation and behaviour change competency domains.ConclusionThe HBCCF provides a structured method for assessing and reporting competency to deliver behaviour change interventions. It can be applied to assess a practitioner’s competency and training needs and to identify the competencies needed for a particular intervention. To date, it has been used in self-assessments and in developing training programmes. We propose the HBCCF as a practical tool for researchers, employers, and those who design and provide training. We envisage the HBCFF maturing and adapting as evidence that identifies the essential elements required for the effective delivery of behaviour change interventions emerges.

Highlights

The importance of behaviour in determining health outcomes has led to the development of behaviour change interventions designed to improve outcomes by changing the behaviour of people in general, clinical populations, or healthcare professionals
The Health Behaviour Change Competency Framework (HBCCF) was presented to a variety of stakeholders and feedback received from them regarding whether the HBCCF would be useful for them, what aspects would be most useful, whether the HBCCF was missing important information, and whether any aspect of the HBCCF was unclear
To facilitate integration with existing competency frameworks used by UK public sector employees, the competencies described in the HBCCF were mapped across to the Knowledge and Skills Framework [26] (KSF)

Summary

Introduction

The importance of behaviour in determining health outcomes has led to the development of behaviour change interventions designed to improve outcomes by changing the behaviour of people in general, clinical populations, or healthcare professionals. Behaviour change interventions are delivered by health professionals from a variety of disciplines and in a wide range of settings [1]. Practitioners trained in these disciplines may vary greatly in how competent they are to deliver. They have different training and, while there is likely to be some shared competencies over different disciplines, there is no framework for describing these competencies. We focus on behaviour change interventions delivered person-to-person to individuals or small groups and outline the pragmatic development of a framework of the competencies involved in their delivery by health or other professionals. Smoking cessation manuals included 14 competency topics from the foundation and behaviour change competency domains

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion